English Explanatory Dictionary

atrophy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.
verb
  1. To wither or waste away.
  2. To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

Pronunciation

/ˈæt.ɹə.fi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-atrophy.wav

Word forms

atrophy atrophies atrophying atrophied

Etymology

Borrowed from French atrophie, from Latin atrophia, from Ancient Greek ἀτροφία (atrophía, “a wasting away”), from ἄτροφος (átrophos, “ill-fed, un-nourished”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + τροφή (trophḗ, “nourishment”), from τρέφω (tréphō, “to fatten”). Equivalent to a- + -trophy.

Antonyms

hypertrophy strengthen

Related words

-trophy hypotrophy decondition

Derived words

atrogene atrophic atrophin dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy dermatrophy encephalatrophy fibroatrophy geographic atrophy hemiatrophy lipoatrophy panatrophy pseudoatrophy scleroatrophy spinal muscular atrophy yellow atrophy
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