xerophthalmia

[ zeer-of-thal-mee-uh, -op- ]

/ ˌzɪər ɒfˈθæl mi ə, -ɒp- /

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noun Ophthalmology.

abnormal dryness of the eyeball characterized by conjunctivitis, caused by a deficiency of tears and attributed to a lack of vitamin A.

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Origin of xerophthalmia

1650–60; xer- + ophthalmia

OTHER WORDS FROM xerophthalmia

xe·roph·thal·mic, adjective

Words nearby xerophthalmia

xeroderma pigmentosum, xerography, xeromorphic, xerophagy, xerophilous, xerophthalmia, xerophyte, xeroradiograph, xerosere, xerosis, xerostomia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use xerophthalmia in a sentence

The development of deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, xerophthalmia, rickets and malnutrition).
Dietetics for Nurses|Fairfax T. Proudfit
He'd have blubbered like any old ZeuglodonHad Xerophthalmia not come on.
The Book of Humorous Verse|Various

British Dictionary definitions for xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia

/ (ˌzɪərɒfˈθælmɪə) /

noun

pathol excessive dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva, caused by a deficiency of vitamin AAlso called: xeroma (zɪˈrəʊmə)

Derived forms of xerophthalmia

xerophthalmic, adjective

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