at·ro·phy ( t r -f )n. pl. at·ro·phies 1. Pathology A wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use: muscular atrophy of a person affected with paralysis. 2. A wasting away, deterioration, or diminution: intellectual atrophy. v. at·ro·phied, at·ro·phy·ing, at·ro·phies v.tr. To cause to wither or deteriorate; affect with atrophy. v.intr. To waste away; wither or deteriorate. [Late Latin atrophia, from Greek atrophi  , from atrophos, ill-nourished : a-, without; see a-1 + troph, food.]a·troph ic (-tr f k) adj. |
atrophy [ˈætrəfɪ]
n pl -phies
1. (Medicine / Pathology) a wasting away of an organ or part, or a failure to grow to normal size as the result of disease, faulty nutrition, etc.
2. any degeneration or diminution, esp through lack of use
vb -phies, -phying, -phied
to waste away or cause to waste away
[from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill-fed, from a-1 + -trophos from trephein to feed]
atrophic [əˈtrɒfɪk] adj
| atrophy (tr-f) A wasting or decrease in the size of an organ or tissue, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished proliferation of cells, pressure, lack of oxygen, malnutrition, decreased function, or hormonal changes. |
atrophy
degeneration as the result of disuse, malnutrition, etc.
See also: Decaying
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | atrophy - 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 |
| 2. | atrophy - any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use) weakening - becoming weaker | |
| Verb | 1. | atrophy - undergo atrophy; "Muscles that are not used will atrophy" shrink, shrivel, shrivel up, wither - wither, as with a loss of moisture; "The fruit dried and shriveled" |
atrophy
verb
1. waste away, waste, shrink, diminish, deteriorate, decay, dwindle, wither, wilt, degenerate, shrivel His muscle atrophied, and he was left lame.
2. decline, waste, fade, shrink, diminish, deteriorate, dwindle, wither, wilt, degenerate, shrivel, waste away If you let your mind stagnate, this talent will atrophy.
noun
1. wasting away, decline, wasting, decay, decaying, withering, deterioration, meltdown (informal), shrivelling, degeneration, diminution exercises to avoid atrophy of cartilage
2. wasting, decline, decay, decaying, withering, deterioration, meltdown (informal), shrivelling, degeneration, diminution, wasting away levels of consciousness which are in danger of atrophy
Translations
atrophy [ˈætrəfɪ] (Med) (fig)
atrophy [ˈætrəfɪ] (Med) (fig)
1. n → atrofia
2. vt → atrofizzare
3. vi → atrofizzarsi
atrophy [ˈætrəfɪ] (Med) (fig)
1. n → atrofia
2. vt → atrofizzare
3. vi → atrofizzarsi
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