hypertrophy
/haɪˈpɜɹ.tɹə.fi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.72 in modern English
27
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its individual cells.
Countable
noun
An increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its individual cells.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Ectopic chondrocyte hypertrophy has been demonstrated in OA, suggesting that the pathogenetical process involves a recapitulation of endochondral ossification [ 11 – 13 ]."
- "But when text hypertrophies into a riot of contending inscripturations, we lose too much of what matters most in writing."
- "Like a well-exercised muscle, 'network' has hypertrophied into a master concept."
Etymology
From French hypertrophie, from Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér, “over, excessive”) + τροφή (trophḗ, “nourishment”), equivalent to hyper- + -trophy.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: hypertrophie, ὑπέρ
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /haɪˈpɜɹ.tɹə.fi/
- British English: /haɪˈpɜː.tɹə.fi/