struma
struma Lexical Profile
struma Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, commonly known as a goiter.
"The endocrinologist noted a visible struma on the patient's neck, prompting immediate thyroid function tests."
A historical medical term referring to a scrofulous tumor or swelling, particularly tuberculosis of the lymph nodes in the neck.
"In older medical literature, a swelling of the cervical lymph nodes caused by tuberculosis was often diagnosed as struma."
A small, cushion-like swelling or protuberance on a plant organ, such as at the base of the capsule in certain mosses or on a petiole.
"The botanist identified the moss species by observing the distinct struma at the base of its spore capsule."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern medicine, 'struma' almost exclusively refers to a goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland) or specific ovarian tumors (struma ovarii), whereas historically it was widely used to describe scrofula.
• Rhymes for struma
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'strūma', meaning 'a scrofulous tumor' or 'goiter', derived from the root 'struere' meaning 'to build or pile up'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.