tumor

[ too-mer, tyoo- ]

/ ˈtu mər, ˈtyu- /

noun

a swollen part; swelling; protuberance.

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

Archaic.

inflated pride; haughtiness.
pompous language; bombast.

Nearby words

tumid, tumidly, tummler, tummy, tummy tuck, tumor, tumor angiogenic factor, tumor antigen, tumor burden, tumor lysis syndrome, tumor marker

Also especially British, tu·mour.

Origin of tumor

1535–45; < Latin: a swelling, swollen state, equivalent to tum(ēre) to swell + -or -or¹

Related forms

tu·mor·like, adjectivetu·mor·ous, tu·mor·al, adjectivean·ti·tu·mor, adjective, nounan·ti·tu·mor·al, adjective

non·tu·mor·ous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tumour

In a further instance, a man had a tumour growing between his eyebrows, the itching of which was insupportable.
A History of Chinese Literature|Herbert A. Giles
The short vowel is inevitable in 'horror' and 'pallor', the long in 'ardour', 'stupor', 'tumour'.
Society for Pure English Tract 4|John Sargeaunt
It is comparatively uncommon for a tumour of the orbit to invade the globe directly.
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition.|Alexander Miles
A twig of Myrtle carried about the person is efficacious in cases of tumour in the groin.
Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics|Richard Folkard

The relative degree of neuritis in the two eyes is a reliable guide to the side on which the tumour is situated (Horsley).
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition.|Alexander Miles

British Dictionary definitions for tumour

tumour

US tumor

/ (ˈtjuːmə) /

noun

pathol

any abnormal swelling
a mass of tissue formed by a new growth of cells, normally independent of the surrounding structures

obsolete pompous style or language

Derived Forms

tumorous or tumoral, adjective

Word Origin for tumour

C16: from Latin, from tumēre to swell

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

Medicine definitions for tumour

tumor

[ tōō′mər ]

n.

An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled, progressive multiplication of cells and serving no physiological function; a neoplasm.

A swollen part; a swelling.

Science definitions for tumour

tumor

[ tōō′mər ]

See neoplasm. See Note at cancer.

Culture definitions for tumour

tumor

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.