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

The reporting took an interesting turn when the lawyer connected us with Jennifer O’Brien, whose 29-year-old daughter, Emily Lauck, is dying from glioblastoma. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 July 2026

Tyler Morton, an artist who lived in the town of Bedford, about 50 miles north of London, died from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in March. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

In June 2022, Burrell was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

Six weeks after having my son, I was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a grade-four brain tumor. — Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

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