psoriasis

[suh-rahy-uh-sis]

noun

Pathology.

1. a common chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by scaly patches.

psoriasis

/ ˌsɔːrɪˈætɪk, səˈraɪəsɪs /

noun

1. a skin disease characterized by the formation of reddish spots and patches covered with silvery scales: tends to run in families

psoriasis

1. A chronic, inflammatory skin disease in which recurring reddish patches, often covered with silvery scales, appear especially on the knees, elbow, scalp and trunk. Psoriasis is noncontagious and is inheritable.

Other Word Forms

• psoriatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of psoriasis¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from New Latin, from Greek psōríāsis, from psōriā- (variant stem of psōriân “to have the itch,” derivative of psṓra “itch”) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of psoriasis¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek: itching disease, from psōra itch