phthisis

phthi·sis  (thss, t-) also phthis·ic (tzk, thz-)

n.

1. A disease characterized by the wasting away or atrophy of the body or a part of the body.

2. Tuberculosis of the lungs. No longer in scientific use.

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[Latin, from Greek, from phthinein, to waste away.]

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phthisis

any disease causing a wasting away of part or all of the body, especially tuberculosis; consumption. — phthisic, phthisical, adj.

See also: Disease and Illness

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

phthisis - involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body pulmonary tuberculosis, wasting disease, white plague, consumption T.B., tuberculosis, TB - infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in various other parts of the body in acute stages)