MEANING
An increase in the size of a tissue or organ through enlargement of its cells.
Use it for
Disproportionate bodily enlargement; one part growing beyond its function; anatomical imbalanceUse when enlargement has a biological basis, not merely fluid accumulation.
Words that belong together
- muscular hypertrophy
- cardiac hypertrophy
- asymmetric hypertrophy
On the page
The report described hypertrophy of the muscle tissue.
Asymmetric hypertrophy changed the shape of the specimen.
In the story, repeated contractions accelerated the organ's hypertrophy.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- hypertrophy
Usage notes
Primary category: horror. Technical; differs from hyperplasia, which increases cell number. Not every swelling is hypertrophy, and it is not inherently harmful. Also used as a verb for the corresponding process. Usually uncountable; technical count plural: hypertrophies. Derived family: hypertrophic (adjective). Secondary same-lexeme verb [base, third-person, past, past participle, -ing]: hypertrophy, hypertrophies, hypertrophied, hypertrophied, hypertrophying.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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