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EXCRESCENCE

 - 5 dictionary results

ex⋅cres⋅cence

  [ik-skres-uhns]
Use EXCRESCENCE in a Sentence
–noun
1. an abnormal outgrowth, usually harmless, on an animal or vegetable body.
2. a normal outgrowth, as hair or horns.
3. any disfiguring addition.
4. abnormal growth or increase.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L excrēscentia. See excrescent, -ence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ex·cres·cence   (ĭk-skrěs'əns)   
n.  

  1. An outgrowth or enlargement, especially an abnormal one, such as a wart.

  2. A usually unwanted or unnecessary accretion: "Independent agencies were an excrescence on the Constitution" (Los Angeles Times).


[Middle English, from Latin excrēscentia, from neuter pl. of excrēscēns, excrēscent-, present participle of excrēscere, to grow out : ex-, ex- + crēscere, to grow; see ker-2 in Indo-European roots.]
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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Word Origin & History

excrescence 
1533, from L. excrescentia (pl.) "abnormal growths," from excrescentem (nom. excrescens), prp. of excrescere "grow out," from ex- "out" + crescere "to grow" (see crescent).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·cres·cence
Pronunciation: ik-'skres-&n(t)s
Function: noun
: an outgrowth or enlargement: as a : a natural and normal appendage or development excrescence from the scalp> b : an abnormal outgrowth excrescences in the colon> —ex·cres·cent /ik-'skres-&nt/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

excrescence ex·cres·cence (ĭk-skrěs'əns)
n.
An outgrowth from a surface that may be normal, such as a fingernail, or abnormal, such as a wart.

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