sclerosis

[ skli-roh-sis ]
/ sklɪˈroʊ sɪs /

noun, plural scle·ro·ses [skli-roh-seez] /sklɪˈroʊ siz/.

Pathology. a hardening or induration of a tissue or part, or an increase of connective tissue or the like at the expense of more active tissue.
Botany. a hardening of a tissue or cell wall by thickening or lignification.

Origin of sclerosis

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin < Greek sklḗrōsis hardening. See scler-, -osis

OTHER WORDS FROM sclerosis

scle·ro·sal, adjective

Words nearby sclerosis

sclerosed, sclerosing adenosis, sclerosing hemangioma, sclerosing keratitis, sclerosing osteitis, sclerosis, sclerostenosis, sclerostomy, sclerotherapy, sclerotic, sclerotic body

Example sentences from the Web for sclerosis

British Dictionary definitions for sclerosis

sclerosis
/ (sklɪəˈrəʊsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

pathol a hardening or thickening of organs, tissues, or vessels from chronic inflammation, abnormal growth of fibrous tissue, or degeneration of the myelin sheath of nerve fibres, or (esp on the inner walls of arteries) deposition of fatty plaques Compare arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis
the hardening of a plant cell wall or tissue by the deposition of lignin
a debilitating lack of progress or innovation within an institution or organization

Derived forms of sclerosis

sclerosal, adjective

Word Origin for sclerosis

C14: via Medieval Latin from Greek sklērōsis a hardening

Medical definitions for sclerosis

sclerosis
[ sklə-rō′sĭs ]

n. pl. scle•ro•ses (-sēz)

The hardening of a tissue or part due to chronic inflammation.
A thickening or hardening of a body part or system especially from excessive formation of fibrous interstitial or glial tissue.
Any of various diseases characterized by thickening or hardening, such as arteriosclerosis.