atrophy
- atrophy
- [[t]æ̱trəfi[/t]]
atrophies, atrophying, atrophied
1) VERB If a muscle or other part of the body atrophies, it decreases in size or strength, often as a result of an illness. [FORMAL]
Scott's muscle atrophied, his leg became stunted, and he was left lame...
[V-ed] Patients exercised their atrophied limbs in the swimming pool.
Syn:
N-UNCOUNT
Atrophy is also a noun.
...exercises to avoid jelling and atrophy of cartilage.
2) VERB If something atrophies, its size, degree, or effectiveness decreases because it is not used or protected. [FORMAL]
If you allow your mind to stagnate, this particular talent will atrophy...
[V-ed] Many hoped he would renew the country's atrophied political system.
Syn:
N-UNCOUNT
Atrophy is also a noun.
...levels of consciousness which are nowadays usurped by television and in danger of atrophy.
English dictionary.
2008.
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Look at other dictionaries:
atrophy — [a′trə fē] n. [< LL atrophia < Gr, a wasting away < a , not + trephein, to feed: see TROPHIC] a wasting away, esp. of body tissue, an organ, etc., or the failure of an organ or part to grow or develop, as because of insufficient… … English World dictionary
Atrophy — At ro*phy, n. [L. atrophia, Gr. ?; a priv. + ? to nourish: cf. F. atrophie.] A wasting away from lack of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part. Milton. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Atrophy — At ro*phy, v. t. [p. p. {Atrophied}.] To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Atrophy — At ro*phy, v. i. To waste away; to dwindle. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Atrophy — Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Thrash Metal Gründung 1986 Website … Deutsch Wikipedia
atrophy — index decay, decline, degenerate, depreciate, deteriorate, deterioration, detriment, dissolution (dis … Law dictionary
atrophy — [n] wasting away, disintegration decline, degeneracy, degeneration, deterioration, diminution, downfall, downgrade; concepts 674,698 … New thesaurus
atrophy — ► VERB (atrophies, atrophied) 1) (of body tissue or an organ) waste away. 2) gradually become less effective or vigorous. ► NOUN ▪ the condition or process of atrophying. DERIVATIVES atrophic adjective … English terms dictionary
atrophy — atrophic /euh trof ik, euh troh fik/, adj. /a treuh fee/, n., v., atrophied, atrophying. n. 1. Also, atrophia /euh troh fee euh/. Pathol. a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage. 2.… … Universalium
Atrophy — For the American thrash metal band, see Atrophy (band) Atrophy Classification and external resources Mice with spinal muscular atrophy MeSH … Wikipedia
Atrophy — Wasting away or diminution. Muscle atrophy is wasting of muscle, decrease in muscle mass. A nerve can also show atrophy. For example, atrophy of the optic nerve diminishes vision. * * * A wasting of tissues, organs, or the entire body, as from… … Medical dictionary
