Definition of ATROPHY

atrophy

Plural: atrophies

Noun

  • a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
  • any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
  • A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.

Verb

Verb Forms: atrophied, atrophying, atrophies

  • To waste away or gradually decline in effectiveness.
  • undergo atrophy
    • "Muscles that are not used will atrophy"
  • To wither or waste away.
  • To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

Examples

  • Let your vocabulary atrophy, and you’ll never win at Scrabble again.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from French atrophie, from Latin atrophia, from Ancient Greek ἀτροφία (atrophía, “a wasting away”), from ἄτροφος (átrophos, “ill-fed, un-nourished”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + τροφή (trophḗ, “nourishment”), from τρέφω (tréphō, “I fatten”). Equivalent to a- + -trophy.

Synonyms

wasting, wasting away, withering

Scrabble Score: 15

atrophy: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
atrophy: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
atrophy: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

atrophy: valid Words With Friends Word