| Noun | 1. | wasting away - a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse amyotrophia, amyotrophy - progressive wasting of muscle tissues tabes - wasting of the body during a chronic disease symptom - (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease kraurosis - atrophy and shriveling of the skin or mucous membrane |