atrophying - Definitions from Dictionary.com

2 results for: atrophying

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

at·ro·phy

Audio Help [a-truh-fee] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -phied, -phy·ing.

–noun

1.	Also, a·tro·phi·a Audio Help [uh-troh-fee-uh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. Pathology. a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.

2.	degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse: He argued that there was a progressive atrophy of freedom and independence of thought.

–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)

3.	to affect with or undergo atrophy.

[Origin: 1590–1600; earlier atrophie (< MF) < LL atrophia < Gk, equiv. to átroph(os) not fed (see a-⁶, tropho-) + -ia -ia

]

—Related forms

a·troph·ic

Audio Help [uh-trof-ik, uh-troh-fik] Pronunciation Key, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
atrophying

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

at·ro·phy Audio Help (āt'rə-fē) Pronunciation Key
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.

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