hypertrophy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an increase in the size of an organ or tissue caused by enlargement of its cells

   Strength training can produce muscular hypertrophy over time.

2. 2
   verb

   of an organ, tissue, or its cells, to increase abnormally or adaptively in size

   The heart may hypertrophy when it must pump against persistently high pressure.

Borrowed from French hypertrophie, built from Ancient Greek hyper ("over, excessive") + trophe ("nourishment, growth"). It contrasts with atrophy, in which tissue wastes or decreases in size.

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