osteoporosis

The definition of osteoporosis is a medical condition in which bones loose density and become very fragile, usually caused by a calcium or hormone deficiency.

(noun)

An example of osteoporosis is a medical condition that affects women after menopause and can cause curvature of the spine.

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See osteoporosis in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a bone disorder characterized by a reduction in bone density accompanied by increasing porosity and brittleness, found chiefly in women who have passed menopause

Origin: ModL < osteo- + porosis, a porous condition < L porus, a pore + -osis

See osteoporosis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. os·te·o·po·ro·ses (-sēz)
A disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to fracture, and heal slowly, occurring especially in women following menopause and often leading to curvature of the spine from vertebral collapse.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin

Origin: : osteo-

Origin: + Greek poros, passage, pore; see pore2

Origin: + -osis

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Related Forms:

  • osˌte·o·po·rotˈic (-rŏtˈĭk) adjective

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