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noun

acromegaly

ak-roh-MEG-uh-lee
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Acromegaly (noun) means a chronic disease in which the bones of the hands, feet, face and jaw grow larger, caused by an overactive pituitary gland. Example: “Acromegaly is a long-term condition that a doctor has to manage.”

noun
1
medical A chronic disease in which the bones of the hands, feet, face and jaw grow larger, caused by an overactive pituitary gland.
"Acromegaly is a long-term condition that a doctor has to manage."
"His enlarged jaw and hands were signs of acromegaly."
"The specialist explained that acromegaly involves the pituitary gland."

How to use acromegaly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long-term illness that makes the bones of the hands, feet, face and jaw grow larger.

When to use it

It is a technical medical term, found mainly in medical writing and conversation.

Memory tip

Say the stress on MEG, not on the first syllable.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
suffer from acromegaly diagnosed with acromegaly a case of acromegaly
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_____ is a long-term condition that a doctor has to manage.

Etymology

English took the word from French acromégalie, which came from New Latin acromegalia. That was built from Ancient Greek words meaning tip or extremity and large.

Origin: French

acromegalia Marie's disease

Rhymes for acromegaly

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Frequently asked questions

What is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a chronic disease in which the bones of the extremities, face and jaw become enlarged. It is caused by over-activity of the pituitary gland.
How do you pronounce acromegaly?
It is said ak-roh-MEG-uh-lee, with the stress on the third syllable.
What does acromegaly mean as a word?
It combines acro-, from a Greek word meaning tip or extremity, with -megaly, from a Greek word meaning large.
What is the meaning of acromegaly?
"acromegaly" (noun) means a chronic disease in which the bones of the hands, feet, face and jaw grow larger, caused by an overactive pituitary gland.