acromegaly

[ ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee ]
/ ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

noun Pathology.

a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, the soft parts of the feet and hands, and sometimes other structures, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

Origin of acromegaly

1885–90; < French acromégalie < New Latin acromegalia. See acro-, -megaly

OTHER WORDS FROM acromegaly

ac·ro·me·gal·ic [ak-roh-muh-gal-ik] /ˌæk roʊ məˈgæl ɪk/, adjective pseu·do·ac·ro·meg·a·ly, noun

Example sentences from the Web for acromegaly

British Dictionary definitions for acromegaly

acromegaly
/ (ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ) /

noun

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 of acromegaly

acromegalic (ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk), adjective, noun

Word Origin for acromegaly

C19: from French acromégalie, from acro- + Greek megal-, stem of megas big

Medical definitions for acromegaly

acromegaly
[ ăk′rō-mĕgə-lē ]

n.

A disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet, and chest due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Marie's disease