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cirrhosis definition

cir·rho·sis (sə rō′sis)

noun pl. cirrhoses -·ses′ (-sēz′)

a degenerative disease in an organ of the body, esp. the liver, marked by excess formation of connective tissue and, usually, subsequent painful swelling

Etymology: ModL < Gr kirrhos, tawny + -osis: so named by R. T. H. Laënnec (1781-1826), Fr physician, because of the orange-yellow appearance of the diseased liver

Related Forms:

  • cirrhotic cir·rhot′ic (-rät′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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