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atrophy

at·ro·phy
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [a-truh-fee]
    • /ˈæ trə fi/
    • /ˈæt.rə.fi/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [a-truh-fee]
    • /ˈæ trə fi/

Definitions of atrophy word

  • verb atrophy If a muscle or other part of the body atrophies, it decreases in size or strength, often as a result of an illness. 3
  • verb atrophy Atrophy is also a noun. 3
  • verb atrophy If something atrophies, its size, degree, or effectiveness decreases because it is not used or protected. 3
  • noun atrophy a wasting away of an organ or part, or a failure to grow to normal size as the result of disease, faulty nutrition, etc 3
  • noun atrophy any degeneration or diminution, esp through lack of use 3
  • verb atrophy to waste away or cause to waste away 3

Information block about the term

Origin of atrophy

First appearance:

before 1590
One of the 37% oldest English words
1590-1600; earlier atrophie (< Middle French) < Late Latin atrophia < Greek, equivalent to átroph(os) not fed (see a-6, tropho-) + -ia -ia

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Atrophy

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

atrophy popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 86% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

atrophy usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for atrophy

noun atrophy

  • degeneration — the process of degenerating
  • decline — If something declines, it becomes less in quantity, importance, or strength.
  • downfall — descent to a lower position or standing; overthrow; ruin.
  • downgrade — a downward slope, especially of a road.
  • deterioration — the act or process of deteriorating.

verb atrophy

  • waste away — become thin and weak
  • wither — to shrivel; fade; decay: The grapes had withered on the vine.
  • shrivel — shrink, dry up
  • degenerate — If you say that someone or something degenerates, you mean that they become worse in some way, for example weaker, lower in quality, or more dangerous.
  • deteriorate — If something deteriorates, it becomes worse in some way.

Antonyms for atrophy

noun atrophy

  • betterment — The betterment of something is the act or process of improving its standard or status.
  • improvement — an act of improving or the state of being improved.
  • increase — to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.
  • rise — to get up from a lying, sitting, or kneeling posture; assume an upright position: She rose and walked over to greet me. With great effort he rose to his knees.
  • ascent — An ascent is an upward journey, especially when you are walking or climbing.

Top questions with atrophy

  • what is spinal muscular atrophy?
  • what is atrophy?
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  • what is vaginal atrophy?
  • when a muscle undergoes atrophy in response to disuse?
  • what is atrophy mean?
  • how long does it take for muscles to atrophy?
  • atrophy is a condition that occurs when?
  • what causes muscle atrophy?
  • what is multiple system atrophy?
  • muscular atrophy involves a process in which?
  • what is brain atrophy?
  • what is multi system atrophy?
  • what is muscular atrophy?

See also

Matching words

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