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BULIMIA

 - 6 dictionary results

bu⋅lim⋅i⋅a

[byoo-lim-ee-uh, -lee-mee-uh, boo-, buh-]
–noun
1. Also called hyperphagia. Pathology. abnormally voracious appetite or unnaturally constant hunger.
2. Also called binge-purge syndrome, bulim⋅ia ner⋅vo⋅sa [nur-voh-suh] . Psychiatry. a habitual disturbance in eating behavior mostly affecting young women of normal weight, characterized by frequent episodes of grossly excessive food intake followed by self-induced vomiting to avert weight gain. Compare anorexia nervosa.
Also, boulimia.


Origin:
1350–1400; ME < NL < Gk boulīmía extreme hunger, equiv. to bou- intensive prefix (deriv. of bou-, s. of boûs ox ) + līm(ós) hunger + -ia -ia
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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bu·li·mi·a   (bōō-lē'mē-ə, -lĭm'ē-ə, byōō-)   
n.  
  1. An eating disorder, common especially among young women of normal or nearly normal weight, that is characterized by episodic binge eating and followed by feelings of guilt, depression, and self-condemnation. It is often associated with measures taken to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, dieting, or fasting. Also called bulimarexia, bulimia nervosa.

  2. Excessive or insatiable appetite.


[New Latin būlīmia, from Greek boulīmiā : bous, ox; see gwou- in Indo-European roots + līmos, hunger.]
bu·li'mic adj. & n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

bulimia

An eating disorder that is characterized by episodic binge eating followed by feelings of guilt or depression and sometimes self-induced vomiting.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

bulimia 
1976, Mod.L., from Gk. boulemia, lit. "ox-hunger," from bou-, intensive prefix (originally from bous "ox") + limos "hunger;" as a psychological disorder, technically bulemia nervosa. Bulimic is 1854 in the sense of "voracious;" the main modern sense of "suffering from bulimia nervosa" is from 1977. Similar bulimy was used from 1398 in a medical sense of "ravishing hunger."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: bu·lim·ia
Pronunciation: byü-'lim-E-&, bü-, -'lE-mE-
Variant: also bou·lim·ia /bü-/
Function: noun
1 : an abnormal and constant craving for food called also hyperorexia
2 : a serious eating disorder that occurs chiefly infemales, is characterized by compulsive overeating usually followed by self-induced vomiting or laxative or diuretic abuse, and is often accompanied by guilt and depression
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

bulimia bu·lim·i·a (by&oomacr;-lĭm'ē-ə, -lē'mē-ə, b&oomacr;-)
n.
A chronic eating disorder involving repeated and secretive episodes of eating, characterized by uncontrolled rapid ingestion of large quantities of food over a short period of time, followed by self-induced vomiting, purging, and anorexia and accompanied by feelings of guilt, depression, or self-disgust. Also called binge-eating syndrome, bulimia nervosa, hyperorexia.


bu·lim'ic adj. & n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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