Atrophying: meaning, definitions and examples

⚠️
Add to dictionary

atrophying

 

[ əˈtrɒf.ɪ.ɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

medical condition

Atrophying refers to the process of wasting away or decreasing in size of a bodily tissue or organ due to various factors, such as lack of use or injury. This condition can occur in muscles, fat, or even organs, leading to a loss of function and overall health. It can often be caused by disuse, malnutrition, or certain diseases. The term is commonly associated with muscle atrophy, which can significantly impact physical abilities.

Synonyms

diminishing, shrinking, wasting

Examples of usage

  • His leg muscles began atrophying after months of immobilization.
  • Atrophying of the heart muscle can lead to serious health complications.
  • Patients in prolonged bed rest often experience atrophying of muscle tissues.
  • Seniors may experience atrophying due to age-related factors.

Translations

Translations of the word "atrophying" in other languages:

🇵🇹 atrofiando

🇮🇳 संकुचन

🇩🇪 atrophierend

🇮🇩 atrofi

🇺🇦 атрофуючи

🇵🇱 atrofizujący

🇯🇵 萎縮している

🇫🇷 atrophiant

🇪🇸 atrofiando

🇹🇷 atrofiye olmak

🇰🇷 위축되고 있는

🇸🇦 يضعف

🇨🇿 atrofující

🇸🇰 atrofujúci

🇨🇳 萎缩

🇸🇮 atrofirajoč

🇮🇸 vöxtum

🇰🇿 атрофирлеу

🇬🇪 ატროფიის

🇦🇿 atropiya

🇲🇽 atrofiando

Etymology

The term 'atrophy' originates from the Greek word 'atrophia', which means 'without nourishment'. It is a combination of 'a-' (without) and 'trophe' (nourishment or food). The concept initially related to the reduction of body tissues due to lack of nutritional support, and over time, it has evolved to encompass various types of degeneration or decrease in size and function. The transition from noun to verb in the English language allowed for the use of 'atrophy' in various contexts, including medicine and biology, to describe the effect of disuse, disease, or age on different body parts.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,265, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.