-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- transgender beleaguer scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast
- ALL
Definition of polyp
1 : a coelenterate (such as a coral) that has typically a hollow cylindrical body closed and attached at one end and opening at the other by a central mouth surrounded by tentacles armed with nematocysts
2 : a growth projecting from a mucous membrane (as of the colon or vocal cords)
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of polyp from the Web
-
Stinging coral Cuts can take a while to heal Most corals are made up of thousands of individual polyps.
-
It could be related to allergies or structural abnormalities such as nasal polyps or enlarged adenoids, which are lymphoid tissues behind the nose.
-
Extremely warm water, low tides and calm, hot weather can cause coral polyps to eject algae, which provide energy needed to grow and reproduce, according to NOAA.
-
Colonoscopies are the most powerful way to find and remove a polyp early.
-
Longer bleeding days can be a sign of fibroids, uterine polyps, or adenomyosis, which is when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus and can cause painful, heavy periods, according to the Mayo Clinic.
-
The bladder polyp, which looks like a pale blue tooth, stores water and glows in the dark.
-
The bladder polyp, which looks like a pale blue tooth, stores water and glows in the dark.
-
The bladder polyp, which looks like a pale blue tooth, stores water and glows in the dark.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'polyp'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of polyp
French polype octopus, nasal polyp, from Old French polipe, from Latin polypus, from Greek polypous, from poly- + pous foot — more at foot
POLYP Defined for English Language Learners
polyp
playDefinition of polyp for English Language Learners
-
medical : a small lump that grows inside your body (such as inside your colon or on your vocal cords)
-
: a small sea animal (such as a coral) that has a body shaped like a tube
POLYP Defined for Kids
polyp
playDefinition of polyp for Students
: a small sea animal (as a coral) having a tubelike body closed and attached to something (as a rock) at one end and opening at the other with a mouth surrounded by tentacles
Medical Dictionary
polyp
playMedical Definition of polyp
: a projecting mass of swollen and hypertrophied or tumorous membrane (as in the nasal cavity or the intestine)—called also polypus
Learn More about polyp
-
See words that rhyme with polyp Britannica English: Translation of polyp for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polyp
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up polyp? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!