phocomelia

or pho·ko·me·li·a

[ foh-koh-mee-lee-uh, -meel-yuh ]

nounPathology.
  1. a usually congenital deformity of the extremities in which the limbs are abnormally short.

Origin of phocomelia

1
1890–95; <New Latin, equivalent to phōco-, combining form representing Greek phṓkē seal + -melia-melia
  • Sometimes pho·com·e·ly [foh-kom-uh-lee] /foʊˈkɒm ə li/ .

Words Nearby phocomelia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use phocomelia in a sentence

  • This condition, from its resemblance to the like state in the seal, is called phocomelia, or seal limbs.

    Degeneracy | Eugene S. Talbot
  • phocomelia with brain deformity has been found associated with them.

    Degeneracy | Eugene S. Talbot

British Dictionary definitions for phocomelia

phocomelia

phocomely (fəʊˈkɒməlɪ)

/ (ˌfəʊkəʊˈmiːlɪə) /


noun
  1. a congenital deformity resulting from prenatal interference with the development of the fetal limbs, characterized esp by short stubby hands or feet attached close to the body

Origin of phocomelia

1
C19: via New Latin from Greek phōkē a seal + melos a limb

Derived forms of phocomelia

  • phocomelic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012