gigantism
gigantism Lexical Profile
gigantism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A rare endocrine disorder characterized by abnormally excessive growth and stature during childhood, typically caused by an overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland before the bone growth plates close.
"Early diagnosis and treatment of pituitary tumors can help manage the physical effects of childhood gigantism."
An evolutionary or biological phenomenon in which an organism, plant, or species grows to an unusually large size compared to its relatives, such as in island or deep-sea environments.
"Deep-sea gigantism explains why certain marine invertebrates, such as the giant squid, reach vastly larger dimensions than their shallow-water relatives."
Unusual or excessive size, scale, or ambition in human enterprises, architecture, or institutions.
"Critics of the urban development project argued that its architectural gigantism would overwhelm the historic neighborhood."
Word Nuance & Usage
In endocrinology, 'gigantism' specifically refers to excessive growth starting in childhood before the epiphyseal growth plates fuse, whereas 'acromegaly' refers to excessive growth hormone production occurring in adulthood.
• Rhymes for gigantism
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 19th century from the Ancient Greek stem 'gigant-' (meaning 'giant', from 'gigas') combined with the suffix '-ism' denoting a pathological condition or state.