noun
atrophy
AT-ruh-fee
noun
1
The wasting away or weakening of a body part, usually a muscle or organ, from disease, injury, or lack of use.
"Long periods in a cast can cause muscle atrophy."
"Astronauts exercise daily in space to prevent bone atrophy."
verb
1
To waste away or grow weaker from lack of use.
"Skills you never practice tend to atrophy over time."
"His leg muscles atrophied after months of bed rest."
How to Use Atrophy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhen a body part, skill, or system weakens or shrinks because it isn't being used.
Memory tip
Often used figuratively too — a skill or relationship can "atrophy" just like a muscle.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
muscle atrophy
atrophy from disuse
begin to atrophy
Word Forms
atrophied past tense, atrophies plural, atrophies singular
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Long periods in a cast can cause muscle _____.
Etymology
From Greek atrophia, "a wasting away," built from a- ("not") and trophe ("nourishment") — literally, not being fed.