tumor

especially British, tu·mour

[too-mer, tyoo-]

noun

1. a swollen part; swelling; protuberance.

2. an uncontrolled, abnormal, circumscribed growth of cells in any animal or plant tissue; neoplasm.

3. Archaic.

   1. inflated pride; haughtiness.

   2. pompous language; bombast.

tumor

1. See neoplasm See Note at cancer

tumor

1. An abnormal mass of new tissue growth that serves no function in the body. Tumors are usually classified as benign or malignant and are often caused by cancer.

Other Word Forms

• tumorlike adjective
• tumorous adjective
• tumoral adjective
• antitumor adjective
• antitumoral adjective
• nontumorous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tumor¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin: “a swelling, swollen state,” equivalent to tum(ēre) “to swell” + -or noun suffix ( -or ¹ )

Related Words

• Cancer 
• carcinoma 
• cyst 
• lump 
• swelling