marasmus

[muh-raz-muh s]

See more synonyms for marasmus on Thesaurus.com

noun Pathology.

malnutrition occurring in infants and young children, caused by insufficient intake of calories or protein and characterized by thinness, dry skin, poor muscle development, and irritability.

Origin of marasmus

1650–60; < New Latin < Greek marasmós a wasting away, akin to maraínein to weaken, waste away

Related formsma·ras·mic, adjectivema·ras·moid, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for marasmus

attenuation, consumption, withering, thinness, malnutrition, atrophy, starvation, anorexia, wasting, tabes, marasmus, haggardness

Examples from the Web for marasmus

Historical Examples of marasmus

The nation, as it were, sickened in a marasmus of intellectual inbreeding.
The Popular Science Monthly, October, 1900
Various
Marasmus is a condition in which the ingested food seems to fail to nourish the body and gradual wasting away occurs.
Outlines of Dairy Bacteriology, 8th edition
H. L. Russell
Inanition or marasmus is the usual cause of death in uncomplicated cases.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
Symptoms of anmia and marasmus, or of chronic exudative peritonitis, or of chronic pleurisy.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
As the disease progresses the patient loses flesh and strength, and usually dies in a condition of marasmus.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various

British Dictionary definitions for marasmus

marasmus

noun

pathol general emaciation and wasting, esp of infants, thought to be associated with severe malnutrition or impaired utilization of nutrients

Derived Formsmarasmic, adjective

Word Origin for marasmus

C17: from New Latin, from Greek marasmos, from marainein to waste

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for marasmus

"wasting away of the body," 1650s, Modern Latin, from Greek marasmos "a wasting away, withering, decay," from marainein "to quench, weaken, wither," from PIE root *mer- "to rub away, harm" (see morbid). Maras (n.) evidently in the same sense is attested from mid-15c. Related: Marasmic.

marasmus in Medicine

marasmus

[mə-răz′məs]

Chronic wasting of body tissues, especially in young children, commonly due to prolonged dietary deficiency of protein and calories.athrepsia

Related formsma•ras′mic adj.