atrophy

at·ro·phy   (āt'rə-fē)    n.   pl. at·ro·phies Pathology A wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use: muscular atrophy of a person affected with paralysis. A wasting away, deterioration, or diminution: intellectual atrophy. v.   at·ro·phied, at·ro·phy·ing, at·ro·phies v.   tr. To cause to wither or deteriorate; affect with atrophy. v.   intr. To waste away; wither or deteriorate. [Late Latin atrophia, from Greek atrophiā, from atrophos, ill-nourished : a-, without; see a-1 + trophē, food.] a·troph'ic (ā-trŏf'ĭk) adj.

atrophy [(at-ruh-fee)]

The wasting away or decrease in size of an organ or tissue in the body. When a body part is affected by paralysis, the muscles may atrophy through lack of use.

Note: The term is also used in a more general way to refer to a wasting process: “Since he stopped playing, his piano skills have atrophied.”

atrophy 

Main Entry: ¹at·ro·phy
Pronunciation: 'a-tr&-fE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -phies
: decrease insize or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant

atrophy at·ro·phy (āt'rə-fē)
n.
A wasting or decrease in the size of an organ or tissue, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished cellular proliferation, pressure, ischemia, malnutrition, decreased function, or hormonal changes. Also called atrophia. v. at·ro·phied, at·ro·phy·ing, at·ro·phies
To undergo atrophy.

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a·troph'ic (ā-trŏf'ĭk) adj.

atrophy   (āt'rə-fē)  Pronunciation Key  A wasting or decrease in the size of an organ or tissue, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished proliferation of cells, pressure, lack of oxygen, malnutrition, decreased function, or hormonal changes.