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phocomelia

or pho·ko·me·li·a

[ foh-koh-mee-lee-uh, -meel-yuh ]
/ ˌfoʊ koʊˈmi li ə, -ˈmil yə /
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noun Pathology.
a usually congenital deformity of the extremities in which the limbs are abnormally short.
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Sometimes pho·com·e·ly [foh-kom-uh-lee] /foʊˈkɒm ə li/ .

Origin of phocomelia

1890–95; <New Latin, equivalent to phōco-, combining form representing Greek phṓkē seal + -melia-melia

Words nearby phocomelia

Phobos, Phocaea, phocine, Phocion, Phocis, phocomelia, phocomelic dwarf, phoebe, Phoebus, Phoenicia, Phoenician
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use phocomelia in a sentence

  • This condition, from its resemblance to the like state in the seal, is called phocomelia, or seal limbs.

    Degeneracy|Eugene S. Talbot

  • Phocomelia with brain deformity has been found associated with them.

    Degeneracy|Eugene S. Talbot

British Dictionary definitions for phocomelia

phocomelia

phocomely (fəʊˈkɒməlɪ)

/ (ˌfəʊkəʊˈmiːlɪə) /
noun
a congenital deformity resulting from prenatal interference with the development of the fetal limbs, characterized esp by short stubby hands or feet attached close to the body

Derived forms of phocomelia

phocomelic, adjective

Word Origin for phocomelia

C19: via New Latin from Greek phōkē a seal + melos a limb
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

Medical definitions for phocomelia

phocomelia
[ fō′kō-mē′lē-ə, -mēl′yə ]
n.
A birth defect in which the upper portion of a limb is absent or poorly developed, so that the hand or foot attaches to the body by a short, flipperlike stump.

Other words from phocomelia

pho′co•me′lic (-mē′lĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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