Definition of alopecia
:loss of hair, wool, or feathers
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
People Are Reading
alopecia was our Word of the Day on 02/28/2007. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Recent Examples of alopecia from the Web
-
Some psychologists work with people whose dermatological problems, like severe psoriasis or eczema or alopecia, have caused or exacerbated psychological issues such as social anxiety or depression.
-
Discoid lupus is medically described as a skin condition in which sores appear on the face, scalp and arms and can cause alopecia.
-
Donating your hair to help those who've lose their own due to chemotherapy treatments (or for other reasons, such as alopecia aerate) is a way to make sure your strands are going to a good cause.
-
About 1/3 of women will experience some form of hair loss (alopecia) throughout their lifetime, according to Harvard Health Publications.
-
More on women dispelling beauty myths: Now, learn what makes this woman with alopecia feel beautiful:
-
More on women dispelling beauty myths: Now, learn what makes this woman with alopecia feel beautiful:
-
The four words Howard spelled on Thursday: alopecia: (the loss of hair, wool or feathers; baldness)
-
The study suggests that defects in Tregs could be responsible for alopecia areata, a common autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss, and could potentially play a role in other forms of baldness, including male pattern baldness, Rosenblum said.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alopecia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Doctors use "alopecia" to refer to various forms of hair loss, including "alopecia areata," a sudden loss of hair in patches that involves little or no inflammation. It may surprise you to learn that the word ultimately derives from "alōpēx," the Greek word for "fox," but the connection makes sense if you think of a fox who is afflicted with mange, a disease with symptoms that include, among other things, loss of hair. Middle English speakers borrowed the Latin word alopecia, which comes from "alōpekia," a Greek term that can be translated as "mange on foxes."
Origin and Etymology of alopecia
Middle English allopicia, from Latin alopecia, from Greek alōpekia, from alōpek-, alōpēx fox; akin to Armenian ałuēs fox, Sanskrit lopāśa
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about alopecia
-
Nglish: Translation of alopecia for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alopecia
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up alopecia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
