lymphatic

1 of 2

adjective

lym·​phat·​ic lim-ˈfa-tik How to pronounce lymphatic (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or produced by lymph, lymphoid tissue, or lymphocytes
b
: conveying lymph
2
: lacking physical or mental energy : sluggish
lymphatically adverb

lymphatic

2 of 2

noun

: a vessel that contains or conveys lymph

called also lymph vessel

Did you know?

Lymph is a pale liquid in the body that helps maintain fluid balance and removes bacteria from tissues. Today, we understand that lymph plays an important role in the body's immune system. In the past, however, it was commonly believed that an excess of lymph caused sluggishness—hence the "sluggish" meaning of lymphatic. The word lymph comes from Latin lympha (meaning "water" or "water goddess"), which itself may be a modification of the Greek word nymphē, meaning "nymph." Both lymph and its related adjective lymphatic have been used in English since the 17th century.

Examples of lymphatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The bubonic form of the disease occurs after a flea bite, usually on the arms or legs, with the swollen lymph node occurring closer to the torso than the bite location, typically on the pathway of the local lymphatic drainage. Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The Club is comprised of a welcome area, four private treatment rooms and two salt booths which provide numerous health benefits such immune, nervous, lymphatic and respiratory support. Maria Tettamanti, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Breaking down food requires coordination across dozens of cell types and many tissues—from muscle cells and immune cells to blood and lymphatic vessels. Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 14 Jan. 2024 While many may prefer to use a dry brush for full-body exfoliation, others may use the tool for lymphatic drainage and depuffing by dry brushing the face. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 1 Feb. 2024 While his Mom was still recovering from lymphatic cancer, Pike was diagnosed in July with an aggressive form of leukemia. Joy Ashford, Dallas News, 25 Aug. 2023 In addition to sauna, steam and cold plunge, there will be IV therapy and spa services including myofascial release and lymphatic drainage. Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2024 The tension-release back massage also works to relieve stiff muscles and stimulate lymphatic drainage. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023 Additionally, Fur has created a Dry Brush that works to improve lymphatic drainage, detoxification, and, without a doubt, the skin’s radiance. Samantha Mims, Essence, 6 Dec. 2023
Noun
In a patient who does not have volume loss in the undereye area, hyaluronic acid fillers can cause an inflammatory reaction, migrate, and cause blockage of the lymphatics, which may lead to on and off swelling, explains Dr. Parsa, noting that that swelling can last for up to 10 years. Taryn Brooke, Allure, 1 Feb. 2024 At-home lymphatic, gua sha, and LED light massages have also been beneficial in keeping cellulite and loose skin at bay. Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021 Your lymphatics that control your immune system have no muscle in their walls. CBS News, 8 Apr. 2020 In 2012, research in the laboratory of Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, identified what appears to be the brain’s waste clearance pathway, the glymphatic (glial-lymphatic) system. Quanta Magazine, 16 Dec. 2019 But Ryan Petrie, a cell biologist at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the study, thinks Lee’s lymphatics-on-a-chip model has promise for understanding the mechanism of integrin alpha-5 in lymphedema. Eva Frederick, Science | AAAS, 13 Dec. 2019 The scientists anxiously examined the fish for evidence that the chaotic lymphatic vessel proliferation had stopped but that nothing else had been harmed. STAT, 1 July 2019 Scraping off your dead stratum corneum cells has no effect on your lymphatics or digestive system. Lori Keong, Marie Claire, 18 Sep. 2017 Nedergaard and Helene Benveniste, a scientist at Yale University, have found evidence linking problems in the lymphatic and glymphatic systems to Alzheimer’s. David Kohn, Washington Post, 21 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lymphatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lymphatic was in 1649

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Dictionary Entries Near lymphatic

Cite this Entry

“Lymphatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lymphatic. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lymphatic

1 of 2 adjective
lym·​phat·​ic lim-ˈfat-ik How to pronounce lymphatic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or produced by lymph
2
: lacking physical or mental energy

lymphatic

2 of 2 noun
: a vessel that contains or transports lymph

called also lymph vessel

Medical Definition

lymphatic

1 of 2 adjective
lym·​phat·​ic lim-ˈfat-ik How to pronounce lymphatic (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or produced by lymph, lymphoid tissue, or lymphocytes
lymphatic nodules
lymphatic infiltration
b
: conveying lymph
a lymphatic channel
2
: lacking physical or mental energy
lymphatically adverb

lymphatic

2 of 2 noun
: a vessel that contains or conveys lymph, that originates as an interfibrillar or intercellular cleft or space in a tissue or organ, and that if small has no distinct walls or walls composed only of endothelial cells and if large resembles a vein in structure

called also lymphatic vessel, lymph vessel

see thoracic duct

More from Merriam-Webster on lymphatic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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