glioblastoma

noun

glio·​blas·​to·​ma ˌglī-ō-ˌbla-ˈstō-mə 

variants or less commonly glioblastoma multiforme

-ˌməlt-ə-ˈfȯrm-ē 

plural glioblastomas also glioblastomata ˌglī-ō-ˌbla-ˈstō-mə-tə  or glioblastomas multiforme or glioblastoma multiformes

: a malignant rapidly growing astrocytoma of the central nervous system and usually of a cerebral hemisphere

Examples of glioblastoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Different cancers, like breast, glioblastoma, and melanoma, also respond differently to cannabis treatments, highlighting the need for personalized cannabinoid therapies and more research into how cannabis affects specific cancer types. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

These candidates are in various stages of clinical trials targeting multiple cancer indications, including non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, and hematological cancers. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2025

Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022 and at the time was given up to 15 months to live. —Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025

Her death follows a 2023 diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from glia glia + blast- + -oma

First Known Use

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for glioblastoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• carcinoma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma

Medical Definition

glioblastoma

noun

glio·​blas·​to·​ma ˌglī-(ˌ)ō-bla-ˈstō-mə 

plural glioblastomas also glioblastomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant rapidly growing astrocytoma of the central nervous system and usually of a cerebral hemisphere

Glioblastoma is the worst grade of malignant glioma, a relatively uncommon but deadly class of brain tumors that kills 97% of those diagnosed within 5 years.

—Greg Miller, Science

called also glioblastoma multiforme