polyp

[ pol-ip ]

noun

1. Zoology.
   1. a sedentary type of animal form characterized by a more or less fixed base, columnar body, and free end with mouth and tentacles, especially as applied to coelenterates.
   2. an individual zooid of a compound or colonial organism.
2. Pathology. a projecting growth from a mucous surface, as of the nose, being either a tumor or a hypertrophy of the mucous membrane.

polyp

/ ˈpɒlɪp /

noun

1. zoology one of the two forms of individual that occur in coelenterates. It usually has a hollow cylindrical body with a ring of tentacles around the mouth Compare medusa
2. Also calledpolypus pathol a small vascularized growth arising from the surface of a mucous membrane, having a rounded base or a stalklike projection

polyp

/ pŏl′ĭp /

1. A cnidarian in its sedentary stage. Polyps have hollow, tube-shaped bodies with a central mouth on top surrounded by tentacles. Some cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones, only exist as polyps after their larval stage, while others turn into medusas as adults or lack a polyp stage completely.
2. Compare medusa
3. An abnormal growth extending from a mucous membrane, as of the intestine.

Derived Forms

• ˈpolypous, adjective

Other Words From

• polyp·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyp¹

1350–1400; Middle English polip, short for polipus nasal tumor (later, also cephalopod, now obsolete) < Medieval Latin, Latin pōlypus < dialectal Greek poulýpous octopus, nasal tumor ( Attic polýpous, genitive polýpodos; poly-, -pod )

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyp¹

C16 polip, from French polype nasal polyp, from Latin pōlypus sea animal, nasal polyp, from Greek polupous having many feet

Example Sentences

The cancers are often grouped together because they have many features in common and occur when malignant polyps develop in either of the digestive organs.

From Los Angeles Times

Doctors can also perform biopsies and remove fibroids or polyps.

From BBC

In fact, during one of her sessions, Nyong’o injured her vocal cords, which forced her to remain silent for three months to avoid surgery for the polyp that had formed on her throat.

From Los Angeles Times

Colorectal tumors can arise from two types of pre-cancerous polyps: conventional adenomas and serrated adenomas.

From Science Daily

Colon and rectal cancer rates have risen among younger adults as rates have declined among older people, who are far more likely to get colonoscopies that can catch cancers and precancerous lesions called polyps.

From New York Times

Related Words

• tumor