a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland
Compare gigantism
Derived forms
acromegalic (ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk)
adjective, noun
Word origin
C19: from French acromégalie, from acro- + Greek megal-, stem of megas big
acromegaly in American English
(ˌækroʊˈmɛgəli)
noun
a disease in which there is enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet,resulting from an overproduction of growth hormone that is caused, usually, by a tumor in the pituitary