atrophy

1 of 2

noun

at·ro·phy ˈa-trə-fē How to pronounce atrophy (audio)

plural atrophies

: decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue

atrophy of muscles

also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant

: a wasting away or progressive decline

It was not a solitude of atrophy, of negation, but of perpetual flowering.

Willa Cather

an atrophy of imagination

atrophic

(ˌ)ā-ˈtrō-fik How to pronounce atrophy (audio)

adjective

atrophy

2 of 2

verb

at·ro·phy ˈa-trə-fē How to pronounce atrophy (audio)

-ˌfī

atrophied; atrophying; atrophies

transitive + intransitive

: to waste away (as from disease or disuse) : to undergo atrophy

Extended periods of weightlessness resulted in body fluids pooling in the upper torso, causing changes in how the heart pumped blood. In addition, muscles began to atrophy, bones lost calcium and mass …

Warren E. Leary

Because of an incomplete spine, only one nerve serviced her legs, causing them to atrophy.

Ada Brownell

Communion with nature strengthens both body and soul; isolation from nature causes both to atrophy.

Mark Purcell

also : to cause (something) to waste away or undergo atrophy

When reform becomes too theological, it atrophies some forces even while it galvanizes others.

John C. Culver

Did you know?

What Can atrophy?

From its literal Greek roots, atrophy would mean basically "lack of nourishment". Although the English word doesn't usually imply any lack of food, it always refers to a wasting away. Those who have been bedridden for a period of time will notice that their muscles have atrophied. And muscular atrophy is a frequent result of such diseases as cancer and AIDS. We also use atrophy in a much more general sense. After being out of work a few years, you may find your work skills have atrophied; someone who's been living an isolated life may discover the same thing about his or her social skills; and a democracy can atrophy when its citizens cease to pay attention to how they're being governed.

Example Sentences

Noun The doctor is concerned about possible atrophy of the shoulder muscles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Joshua Cooper, 28, lives in Little Falls, New Jersey, and has Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disorder that impacts motor skills.

Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 The Grammy Award nominee, 73, announced that she's been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and is showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in an emotional, yet optimistic statement on Facebook and her website Friday.

Glenn Garner, Peoplemag, 20 Aug. 2022 Cathy Ludlum, a Manchester woman who has spinal atrophy, said the bill pending before the legislature’s public health committee devalues the lives of people with disabilities.

Daniela Altimari, courant.com, 22 Feb. 2022 Her husband, who has spinal muscular atrophy and uses a wheelchair, turns lights on and off with voice commands and can answer the phone and control the television with a smart device.

Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Moreover, clinical researchers have confirmed that patients who are able to remain on antipsychotic medication commonly develop cerebral atrophy and tardive dyskinesia, an involuntary movement disorder.

Richard J. Mcnally, WSJ, 13 May 2022 Chandler is an author, founder, and public speaker who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disease that causes people to lose motor function throughout their lives.

Gabaccia Moreno, Outside Online, 29 June 2021 Even today schools in some countries, such as the Philippines, remain shut to most pupils, leaving their minds to atrophy.

James Freeman, WSJ, 11 July 2022 At Columbia, Nunes helped rebuild the School of the Arts after the university had allowed it to atrophy.

Steven Litt, cleveland, 26 June 2022 See More

Medical Definition

atrophy 1 of 2

noun

at·ro·phy ˈa-trə-fē How to pronounce atrophy (audio)

plural atrophies

: decrease in size 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

2 of 2

verb

ˈa-trə-fē

-ˌfī

atrophied; atrophying

intransitive verb

: to undergo atrophy

the inactive muscles atrophied

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo atrophy

disuse atrophied the arm

单词	atrophies
释义	atrophy 1 of 2 noun at·ro·phy ˈa-trə-fē plural atrophies 1 : decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue atrophy of muscles also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant 2 : a wasting away or progressive decline It was not a solitude of atrophy, of negation, but of perpetual flowering. Willa Cather an atrophy of imagination atrophic (ˌ)ā-ˈtrō-fik adjective atrophy 2 of 2 verb at·ro·phy ˈa-trə-fē -ˌfī atrophied; atrophying; atrophies transitive + intransitive : to waste away (as from disease or disuse) : to undergo atrophy Extended periods of weightlessness resulted in body fluids pooling in the upper torso, causing changes in how the heart pumped blood. In addition, muscles began to atrophy, bones lost calcium and mass … Warren E. Leary Because of an incomplete spine, only one nerve serviced her legs, causing them to atrophy. Ada Brownell Communion with nature strengthens both body and soul; isolation from nature causes both to atrophy. Mark Purcell also : to cause (something) to waste away or undergo atrophy When reform becomes too theological, it atrophies some forces even while it galvanizes others. John C. Culver see also atrophied Did you know? What Can atrophy? From its literal Greek roots, atrophy would mean basically "lack of nourishment". Although the English word doesn't usually imply any lack of food, it always refers to a wasting away. Those who have been bedridden for a period of time will notice that their muscles have atrophied. And muscular atrophy is a frequent result of such diseases as cancer and AIDS. We also use atrophy in a much more general sense. After being out of work a few years, you may find your work skills have atrophied; someone who's been living an isolated life may discover the same thing about his or her social skills; and a democracy can atrophy when its citizens cease to pay attention to how they're being governed. Example Sentences Noun The doctor is concerned about possible atrophy of the shoulder muscles. Recent Examples on the Web Noun Joshua Cooper, 28, lives in Little Falls, New Jersey, and has Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disorder that impacts motor skills. Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 The Grammy Award nominee, 73, announced that she's been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and is showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in an emotional, yet optimistic statement on Facebook and her website Friday. Glenn Garner, Peoplemag, 20 Aug. 2022 Cathy Ludlum, a Manchester woman who has spinal atrophy, said the bill pending before the legislature’s public health committee devalues the lives of people with disabilities. Daniela Altimari, courant.com, 22 Feb. 2022 Her husband, who has spinal muscular atrophy and uses a wheelchair, turns lights on and off with voice commands and can answer the phone and control the television with a smart device. Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Moreover, clinical researchers have confirmed that patients who are able to remain on antipsychotic medication commonly develop cerebral atrophy and tardive dyskinesia, an involuntary movement disorder. Richard J. Mcnally, WSJ, 13 May 2022 Chandler is an author, founder, and public speaker who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disease that causes people to lose motor function throughout their lives. Gabaccia Moreno, Outside Online, 29 June 2021 Even today schools in some countries, such as the Philippines, remain shut to most pupils, leaving their minds to atrophy. James Freeman, WSJ, 11 July 2022 At Columbia, Nunes helped rebuild the School of the Arts after the university had allowed it to atrophy. Steven Litt, cleveland, 26 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill fed, from a- + trephein to nourish First Known Use Noun 1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 1863, in the meaning defined above Medical Definition atrophy 1 of 2 noun at·ro·phy ˈa-trə-fē plural atrophies : decrease in size 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 2 of 2 verb ˈa-trə-fē -ˌfī atrophied; atrophying intransitive verb : to undergo atrophy the inactive muscles atrophied transitive verb : to cause to undergo atrophy disuse atrophied the arm atrophies verb present tense third-person singular of atrophy as in deteriorates to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance deteriorates crumbles worsens descends declines diminishes rots degenerates devolves decays regresses weakens sinks ebbs disintegrates retrogrades wanes sags recedes dwindles decomposes degrades falls runs to seed corrupts downsizes goes to pot reduces goes to seed abates molders sours putrefies debilitates undermines languishes droops slips wilts lessens dilapidates lags de-escalates fails spoils lowers breaks down runs down flags wastes (away) Antonyms & Near Antonyms improves ameliorates enhances intensifies enriches develops strengthens progresses heightens fortifies meliorates upgrades betters advances proceeds marches See More
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atrophy

noun

verb

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

verb

verb