sclerosis

[skli-roh-sis]

noun

plural

scleroses 

1. Pathology.,  a hardening or induration of a tissue or part, or an increase of connective tissue or the like at the expense of more active tissue.

2. Botany.,  a hardening of a tissue or cell wall by thickening or lignification.

sclerosis

/ sklɪəˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

1. pathol a hardening or thickening of organs, tissues, or vessels from chronic inflammation, abnormal growth of fibrous tissue, or degeneration of the myelin sheath of nerve fibres, or (esp on the inner walls of arteries) deposition of fatty plaques Compare arteriosclerosis atherosclerosis multiple sclerosis

2. the hardening of a plant cell wall or tissue by the deposition of lignin

3. a debilitating lack of progress or innovation within an institution or organization

Other Word Forms

• sclerosal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sclerosis¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin < Greek sklḗrōsis hardening. See scler-, -osis

Word History and Origins

Origin of sclerosis¹

C14: via Medieval Latin from Greek sklērōsis a hardening

Example Sentences

Given adverse events seen with other trials, expectations for fenebrutinib in relapsing multiple sclerosis were modest, he says.

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And 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed with the condition.

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The Swiss pharmaceutical group said Monday that fenebrutinib met its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the most common form of the disease.

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Multiple sclerosis is an "autoimmune" disease, which happens when the immune system attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord by mistake.

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Early research indicates that it might even help prevent autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, though more studies are needed to confirm this.

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