papillary

[ pap-uh-ler-ee, puh-pil-uh-ree ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a papilla or papillae.
2. having or covered with papillae.

Other Words From

• inter·papil·lary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of papillary¹

1660–70; < Latin papill ( a ) nipple + -ary

Example Sentences

The early indication was that she had papillary thyroid cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

Diagnosed in 2013 with serous papillary uterine cancer, a rare and aggressive variety, I went through the full “cut poison burn” treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

From Washington Post

Last year, Lugo shared with her followers that she was diagnosed with stage 2 papillary thyroid cancer.

From Fox News

Sixteen days after my beloved dad died last year, I ended up in the emergency room with what turned out to be papillary carcinoma, one of five kinds of thyroid cancer.

From Washington Post

She had something known as a papillary fibroelastoma — an extremely rare but benign mass that usually grows at the edge of the valves in the heart.

From New York Times