acromegaly

American  

[ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee] / ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

noun

Pathology.

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, the soft parts of the feet and hands, and sometimes other structures, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

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acromegaly British  

/ ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ, ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk /

noun

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland Compare gigantism

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Other Word Forms

• acromegalic adjective
• pseudoacromegaly noun

Etymology

Origin of acromegaly

1885–90; < French acromégalie < New Latin acromegalia. See acro-, -megaly

Compare meaning

How does acromegaly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

Example Sentences

The disease the AI targets is acromegaly, an uncommon condition that usually appears in middle age.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

In recent decades, DNA tests have shown Byrne carried a gene mutation that can cause tumors near the pituitary gland, which in turn causes extreme growth, called acromegaly.

From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2023

Her growth-hormone levels were nearly five times what they should be: She had acromegaly.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2022

In adults, excessive GH can lead to acromegaly, a condition in which there is enlargement of bones in the face, hands, and feet that are still capable of growth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Nothing was found on investigation, however, and eventually the gradual development of the symptoms of acromegaly showed what was really the basic cause.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)