osteophyte

[ os-tee-uh-fahyt ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a small, bony outgrowth on a bone, especially at or near a joint as a result of osteoarthritis; bone spur.

osteophyte

/ ˌɒstɪəˈfɪtɪk; ˈɒstɪəˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a small abnormal bony outgrowth

Derived Forms

• osteophytic, adjective

Other Words From

• os·te·o·phyt·ic [os-tee-, uh, -, fit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of osteophyte¹

First recorded in 1840–50; osteo- + -phyte

Example Sentences

That approach revealed that exercise does appear to promote the growth of osteophytes, or bony spurs, in the knee joint.

From Washington Post

Activity, especially lots of it, was ‘‘associated with an increase in radiographic osteophytes,’’ or bone spurs, the authors wrote, a condition that long has been accepted as an early indication of knee arthritis.

From New York Times

Bones may occasionally grow in such a profuse and irregular manner that the product, or osteophyte, assumes the character of a tumor.

From Project Gutenberg