sclerosis

scle·ro·sis

noun \sklə-ˈrō-səs\

Definition of SCLEROSIS

1

: pathological hardening of tissue especially from overgrowth of fibrous tissue or increase in interstitial tissue; also : a disease characterized by sclerosis

2

: an inability or reluctance to adapt or compromise <political sclerosis>

Origin of SCLEROSIS

Middle English sclirosis tumor, from Medieval Latin, from Greek sklērōsis hardening, from sklēroun to harden, from sklēros

First Known Use: 1846

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with SCLEROSIS

cirrhosis, hypnosis, kenosis, lordosis, meiosis, miosis, mitosis, narcosis, necrosis, neurosis, orthosis, osmosis, prognosis, psychosis, stenosis, thrombosis

scle·ro·sis

noun \sklə-ˈrō-səs\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; scle·ro·ses \-ˌsēz\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of SCLEROSIS

1

: a pathological condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue and other changes (as in arteriosclerosis) or by increase in interstitial tissue and other changes (as in multiple sclerosis)—called also hardening

2

: any of various diseases characterized by sclerosis—usually used in combination; see arteriosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myelosclerosis