anorexia

[ an-uh-rek-see-uh ]
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noun
  1. Psychiatry. anorexia nervosa.

  2. loss of appetite and inability to eat.

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Origin of anorexia

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from New Latin, from Greek, from an- an-1 + órex(is) “appetite, desire, longing” (from orég(ein) “to reach, stretch” + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia

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British Dictionary definitions for anorexia

anorexia

/ (ˌænɒˈrɛksɪə) /


noun
  1. loss of appetite

  2. Also called: anorexia nervosa (nɜːˈvəʊsə) a disorder characterized by fear of becoming fat and refusal of food, leading to debility and even death

Origin of anorexia

1
C17: via New Latin from Greek, from an- + orexis appetite

Derived forms of anorexia

  • anorectic or anorexic, adjective, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for anorexia

anorexia

[ ăn′ə-rĕksē-ə ]


  1. Loss of appetite, especially as a result of disease.

  2. Anorexia nervosa.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for anorexia

anorexia

A short name for anorexia nervosa.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.