ATROPHY Definition & Meaning

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atrophy

[a-truh-fee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Pathology.��Also atrophia a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.
degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse.
He argued that there was a progressive atrophy of freedom and independence of thought.

verb (used with or without object)

atrophied, atrophying

to affect with or undergo atrophy.

atrophy

/ ˈætrəfɪ, əˈtrɒfɪk /

noun

a wasting away of an organ or part, or a failure to grow to normal size as the result of disease, faulty nutrition, etc
any degeneration or diminution, esp through lack of use

verb

to waste away or cause to waste away

atrophy

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.

atrophy

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.

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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.”

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

atrophic adjective
nonatrophic adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of atrophy¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier atrophie, from Middle French, from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from á�ٰ��Ǳ��(�ǲ�) “not fed, unnourished” (from a- a- ⁶ + �ٰ��Ǳ��(ḗ) “nourishment” + -os, adjective suffix; tropho- ) + -ia -ia

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of atrophy¹

C17: from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill-fed, from _a- ¹ + -trophos from trephein to feed

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Our democratic muscles have atrophied, and I hope they can be reinvigorated before it's too late."

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Any principles beyond those have atrophied into invisibility.

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That leaves audiences with the impression that the moviegoing experience is only for big blockbusters, which he said would eventually “atrophy” the network needed to make even those films successful.

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How and why did civics and social studies education atrophy in America’s schools?

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Without that force, bone density and muscles can atrophy and weaken, with bones becoming 1% less dense for every month spent in space without any measures performed to combat bone loss.

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Related 51�Թ�s

degeneration��

atrophied atropine

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