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at·ro·phy
 atrophy
- pronunciation:
- ae
tr
fi
- parts of speech:
- noun, transitive verb, intransitive verb
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
atrophies |
| definition 1: |
a gradual wasting away of a body part, esp. from insufficient use or nourishment.
After your surgery, you will have to begin exercise to prevent atrophy of your muscles. |
| definition 2: |
any degeneration or wasting away.
He condemned what he sees as moral atrophy in our society. |
| related words: |
decay, decline |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
atrophied, atrophies, atrophying |
| definition: |
to cause to waste away.
Disuse atrophied her arm.- antonyms:
- strengthen
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to waste away.
After the accident, the muscles in her legs atrophied.- antonyms:
- flourish, strengthen
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| related words: |
decay |
| derivation: |
atrophic (adj.) |
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