thalassemia

thal·as·se·mia

noun \ˌtha-lə-ˈsē-mē-ə\

Definition of THALASSEMIA

: any of a group of inherited disorders of hemoglobin synthesis affecting the globin chain that are characterized usually by mild to severe hemolytic anemia, are caused by a series of allelic genes, and tend to occur especially in individuals of Mediterranean, black, or southeast Asian ancestry; especially : cooley's anemia

— thal·as·se·mic \-mik\ adjective or noun

Origin of THALASSEMIA

New Latin, from Greek thalassa sea + New Latin -emia

First Known Use: 1932

Rhymes with THALASSEMIA

academia, hyperemia, septicemia