tumor
tumor Lexical Profile
tumor Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American An abnormal mass of tissue formed when cells divide and grow excessively in the body, which can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
"After reviewing the MRI scans, the oncologist confirmed that the tumor had successfully shrunk following the first round of chemotherapy."
American A general swelling of a part of the body, especially one occurring without inflammation.
"Classical medical texts often used the word to describe any unexplained tumor or physical swelling on a patient's limbs."
Word Nuance & Usage
The American English spelling is 'tumor', whereas British and Commonwealth English use 'tumour'.
• Rhymes for tumor
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'tumour', via Old French from Latin 'tumor' (a swelling), which derives from the verb 'tumere' meaning 'to swell'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.