myxoma

American  

[mik-soh-muh] / mɪkˈsoʊ mə /

noun

Pathology.

plural

myxomas, myxomata

1. a soft tumor composed of connective and mucoid tissue.

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myxoma British  

/ mɪkˈsəʊmə, mɪkˈsɒmətəs /

noun

1. a tumour composed of mucous connective tissue, usually situated in subcutaneous tissue

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Other Word Forms

• myxomatous noun

Etymology

Origin of myxoma

From New Latin, dating back to 1865–70; myx-, -oma

Example Sentences

Scientists killed hundreds of millions of them by introducing the myxoma virus — the deadliest vertebrate virus — but as Carl Zimmer wrote in June, the rabbits adapted and kicked off an evolutionary arms race.

From New York Times

It looked like a benign tumor, called a myxoma, Minella said.

From New York Times

But the myxoma virus — fatal to millions of Australian rabbits — is a textbook example of a virus that did not get milder over time.

From New York Times

After its introduction in 1950, myxoma virus became less lethal to the rabbits, but Dr. Read and his colleagues discovered that it reversed course in the 1990s.

From New York Times

Day said there are documented cases of animal viruses that evolved over time to become more lethal, including myxoma virus in rabbits and Marek’s disease in chicken.

From Seattle Times