Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

hirsutism

 - 5 dictionary results

hir⋅sut⋅ism

[hur-soo-tiz-uhm, hur-soo-tiz-]
–noun Medicine/Medical.
excessive hairiness, esp. in women.

Origin:
1925–30; hirsute + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hirsutism
hir·sut·ism   (hûr'sōō-tĭz'əm, hîr'-, hər-sōō'-)   
n.  Heavy growth of hair, often in abnormal distribution.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hir·sut·ism
Pronunciation: 'h&r-s&-"tiz-&m, 'hi(&)r-
Function: noun
: excessive growth of hair of normal orabnormal distribution : HYPERTRICHOSIS
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

hirsutism hir·sut·ism (hûr's&oomacr;-tĭz'əm, hēr'-, hər-s&oomacr;'-)
n.
The presence of excessive body and facial hair, especially in women.

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

hirsutism

excessive, abnormal hairiness that may be localized or cover the entire body. It is thought that hypertrichosis results either from persistence of the lanugo-vellus hairs covering the body of the fetus or from augmented development of hair follicles. Generalized hirsutism is a common side effect of hyperadrenal corticoidism (Cushing's disease) and has also been observed in hexachlorobenzene poisoning.

Learn more about hirsutism with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see hirsutism on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: