atrophy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the wasting away of a body part or faculty from disuse or disease

   Months in bed caused noticeable atrophy of his leg muscles.

From Late Latin atrophia, from Ancient Greek atrophía ('a wasting away'), from átrophos ('ill-fed, unfed'), from a- ('without') + trophḗ ('nourishment'), from tréphō ('I nourish').

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