ankylose

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   medicine: to cause bones or a joint to become fused, rigid, or abnormally stiff

   Chronic inflammation can ankylose the small joints of the spine.

2. 2
   verb

   medicine: to become fused or rigid through ankylosis

   The damaged joint may gradually ankylose without treatment.

Back-formed from ankylosis, from Greek ankylosis, 'stiffening or making crooked,' based on ankylos, 'bent or crooked.' The older spelling anchylose reflects an earlier transliteration of the Greek element.

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