noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

tumour

Also spelled tumor (US spelling)

Tumour (noun) means (British spelling) An abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body, which may be benign or cancerous. Example: “Surgeons successfully removed the tumour before it could spread.”

noun

(British spelling) An abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body, which may be benign or cancerous.

"Surgeons successfully removed the tumour before it could spread."

How to Use Tumour

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe British spelling of "tumor" — an abnormal lump or growth of tissue in the body.

UK vs US

Use "tumour" in British/Commonwealth English and "tumor" in American English.

Easily confused with

tumor →

Word Forms

tumours plural

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Fill the Gap

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Surgeons successfully removed the _____ before it could spread.

Etymology

From Latin tumor ("a swelling"), from tumēre ("to swell") — a distant relative of the English word "thumb."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for tumour

our hour four your pour sour tour dour flour scour odour amour

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “tumour” mean?

The word “tumour” means (British spelling) An abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body, which may be benign or cancerous. In plain terms, the British spelling of "tumor" — an abnormal lump or growth of tissue in the body.

How do you use “tumour” in a sentence?

Here is “tumour” used in a sentence: “Surgeons successfully removed the tumour before it could spread.”

What part of speech is “tumour”?

“Tumour” is a noun.

Where does the word “tumour” come from?

The word “tumour” comes from Latin. From Latin tumor ("a swelling"), from tumēre ("to swell") — a distant relative of the English word "thumb.".

Is “tumour” a common word?

“Tumour” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.