lymphatic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to, containing, or conveying lymph.
-
(of persons) having the characteristics, as flabbiness or sluggishness, formerly believed to be due to an excess of lymph in the system.
noun
adjective
-
of, relating to, or containing lymph
the lymphatic vessels
-
of or relating to the lymphatic system
-
sluggish or lacking vigour
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lymphatic
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin lymphāticus “frenzied, crazy,” literally, “watery,” with the substantial shift in definition perhaps parallel to Greek nymphiân “to be in a frenzy,” from nýmphē “bride, nymph,” poetically, “water” ( see nymph); equivalent to lymph + -atic ( def. )
Explanation
Lymphatic describes things related to the system that helps your body clear out toxins and waste. Your lymphatic system also helps protect you from disease and infection. Lymph is a colorless fluid that contains white blood cells, and lymphatic describes anything connected to this substance. The Latin root is lympha, or "clear water." The lymphatic system moves lymph throughout the body, keeping fluid levels balanced and helping to defend against infection. Lymphatic vessels are the tiny tubes that drain lymph and send it back to the bloodstream. Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign that the lymphatic system isn't working properly.
Vocabulary lists containing lymphatic
Life Science: Human Systems
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STAAR Biology: Biological Processes and Systems
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What's really going on with the lymphatic drainage beauty trend videos?
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The choroid plays an important role in nourishing the outer retina, but lymphatic vessels had not previously been established in this region.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
The lymphatic system consists of vessels and tissues that collect excess fluid, transport certain waste products, and help coordinate immune responses.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
"In simple terms, the lymphatic system helps keep your body's fluid levels balanced, cleans up waste, and supports your defences against illness," says van Tulleken.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
A century later, in the years after 1653, there was a bitter dispute between Thomas Bartholin and Olof Rudbeck over the discovery of the human lymphatic system.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
