tumor
//tjuː.mə//
Forms
- Plural
- tumors
Definitions
1.An abnormal growth; differential diagnosis includes abscess, metaplasia, and neoplasia.
- It’s possible that some microbes don’t just take up residence in tumors but help them grow. They may cloak the tumor from the immune system, neutralize drugs or help tumors spread through the body.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4105
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English tumour, from Old French tumour, from Latin tumor (“swelling”), from tumeō (“bulge, swell”, verb), from Proto-Italic *tumēō, from Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (“to swell”).
Related to English thumb.