tumor

[ too-mer, tyoo- ]

noun

1. a swollen part; swelling; protuberance.
2. an uncontrolled, abnormal, circumscribed growth of cells in any animal or plant tissue; neoplasm.
3. Archaic.
   1. inflated pride; haughtiness.
   2. pompous language; bombast.

tumor

/ to̅o̅′mər /

1. See neoplasmSee Note at cancer

tumor

1. An abnormal mass of new tissue growth that serves no function in the body. Tumors are usually classified as benign or malignant and are often caused by cancer .

Other Words From

• tumor·like adjective
• tumor·ous tumor·al adjective
• anti·tumor adjective noun
• anti·tumor·al adjective
• non·tumor·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tumor¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin: “a swelling, swollen state,” equivalent to tum(ēre) “to swell” + -or noun suffix ( -or ¹ )

Example Sentences

They’re at risk for developing these tumors, and those tumors can turn into cancer, but they can also be very, very disabling.

From Freakonomics

Vaccine therapy for cancer would not be preventative, but rather would stimulate immune cells to mount a response against a patient’s tumor based on surface proteins the cancer cells have that their non-cancerous counterparts lack.

From Popular-Science

In 2018, she said she was cancer-free after a spot was detected on her lungs and she had a small tumor removed.

From Washington Post

Many of us have cancerous tumors growing in us all the time, but our immune system gets rid of them.

From Nautilus

NF2 is a rare genetic disorder that results in the growth of tumors on the nerves and in the brain.

From Fortune

He was brought to the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center after doctors in Gaza discovered an aggressive tumor below his left knee.

From The Daily Beast

But the brain tumor plaintiff does not have to say what he would have done.

From The Daily Beast

Properly functioning, fully active RB can be thought of as having anti-tumor effects.

From The Daily Beast

His tumor had spread, and the next six years became a painful game of catch-up, one that he ultimately failed.

From The Daily Beast

A few years later, Baum posited that the math behind tumor growth looked more like chaos theory than anything else.

From The Daily Beast

It would be safer to remove every tumor of the breast at an early date.

From Project Gutenberg

One of my mules which drank veruga water was attacked by a large tumor on the leg.

From Project Gutenberg

Every pocket is a latent distortion—put something into it and you have a swelling, a tumor.

From Project Gutenberg

Lily was suffering from a malignant tumor involving the hip, which surgeons in consultation had decided should be removed.

From Project Gutenberg

On proceeding to examine the tumor, he found a plaster covering it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• Cancer
• carcinoma
• cyst
• lump
• swelling