TUMOR

tumor, tumour, neoplasm

(noun) an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

tumor (plural tumors) (American spelling)

(oncology, pathology) An abnormal growth; differential diagnosis includes abscess, metaplasia, and neoplasia.

Usage notes

Tumor is the standard US spelling and an alternative spelling in Canada. Tumour is the standard modern spelling elsewhere.

Synonyms

• (an abnormal growth): neoplasm

Hyponyms

• (an abnormal growth): primary brain tumor

• See also tumor

Source: Wiktionary

Tu"mor, n. Etym: [L., fr. tumere to swell: cf. F. tumeúr. See Tumid.]

1. (Med.)

Definition: A morbid swelling, prominence, or growth, on any part of the body; especially, a growth produced by deposition of new tissue; a neoplasm.

2. Affected pomp; bombast; swelling words or expressions; false magnificence or sublimity. [R.] Better, however, to be a flippant, than, by a revolting form of tumor and perplexity, to lead men into habits of intellect such as result from the modern vice of English style. De Quincey. Encysted tumor, a tumor which is inclosed in a membrane called a cyst, connected with the surrounding parts by the neighboring cellular substance.

– Fatty tumor. See under Fatty.

– Innocent tumor, or Benign tumor, one which does not of itself threaten life, and does not usually tend to recur after extirpation.

– Malignant tumor, a tumor which tends continually to spread, to become generalized in different parts of the body, and to recur after extirpation, and which, if left to itself, causes death.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition