malacia

[ muh-ley-shuh, -shee-uh, -see-uh ]
/ məˈleɪ ʃə, -ʃi ə, -si ə /

noun Pathology.

softening, or loss of consistency, of an organ or tissue.
an abnormal craving for highly spiced food.

Origin of malacia

1650–60; < New Latin < Greek malakía softness, tenderness, weakness. See malaco-, -ia

OTHER WORDS FROM malacia

mal·a·coid [mal-uh-koid] /ˈmæl əˌkɔɪd/, adjective mal·a·cot·ic [mal-uh-kot-ik] /ˌmæl əˈkɒt ɪk/, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for malacia

malacia
/ (məˈleɪʃɪə) /

noun

the pathological softening of an organ or tissue, such as bone

Medical definitions for malacia

malacia
[ mə-lāshə ]

n.

A softening or loss of consistency in any of the organs or tissues. malacosis mollities