atrophy
atrophy — noun
1. The medical condition in which a body part grows smaller and weaker, usually fro
The medical condition in which a body part grows smaller and weaker, usually from lack of use, injury, or poor blood supply.
After months in a cast, Mei's leg muscle showed clear signs of atrophy.
signs of atrophy
The doctor explained that the atrophy in Amir's arm was caused by the damaged nerve.
Spinal muscle atrophy is a serious condition that affects movement in young children.
Ricardo's physiotherapist designed exercises to reverse the atrophy in his shoulder.
Extended bed rest can lead to atrophy of large muscles in the thighs and back.
- wasting
more general; can describe any loss of body mass from various causes
- shrinkage
focuses only on size reduction, not necessarily loss of function
- degeneration
broader term; often implies structural breakdown, not just disuse
- hypertrophy
the medical opposite: abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ
- growth
increase in size and strength of tissue
2. A slow weakening or loss of quality and effectiveness in something that is not u
A slow weakening or loss of quality and effectiveness in something that is not used, practised, or maintained.
Years without public funding led to a slow atrophy of the town's library services.
slow atrophy
The gardener worried about the atrophy of traditional plant knowledge among the younger generation.
Kavya noticed an atrophy in her French skills after not speaking it for a decade.
Aiko saw the atrophy of her Japanese writing skills after ten years speaking only English at her London office.
Isabella's weekly piano practice kept her musical ability from falling into atrophy.
- decline
more common and general; can be temporary or reversible
- deterioration
emphasises worsening quality or condition, not specifically from disuse
- decay
implies rot or moral collapse; stronger and more negative than atrophy
- growth
increase in strength, quality, or effectiveness
- flourishing
thriving and developing well, the opposite of decline from neglect
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1 (MUSCLE WASTING): this sense describes decline in non-physical things such as skills, institutions, or relationships.
atrophy — verb
- atrophypresent simple I / you / we / they
- atrophies3rd person singular
- atrophying-ing form
- atrophiedpast simple
1. To become smaller and weaker from lack of use, disease, or injury — said of a bo
To become smaller and weaker from lack of use, disease, or injury — said of a body part; more broadly, to grow less effective through neglect — said of a skill, system, or ability.
Without regular exercise, Mandla's injured leg muscle began to atrophy over several months.
began to atrophy
Dr. Ayanda pointed to the brain scan and showed her patient where the motor cortex had atrophied.
had atrophied
Arjun's language skills atrophied after he stopped using them during his years abroad.
Mateo's forearm muscles atrophied during the six weeks his wrist was in a cast.
Noah worried that his social confidence had atrophied after working from home for three years.
- waste away
more vivid; often implies visible loss of body mass over time
- shrink
focuses only on size reduction, not loss of strength or function
- deteriorate
broader; covers any worsening, not specifically from disuse
- strengthen
to become stronger, the direct opposite of weakening
- develop
to grow in size, ability, or complexity through use
文法句型
[body part or skill] + atrophy
用法筆記
Subject can be a body part (literal) or a skill, ability, or system (figurative). Only used intransitively; you cannot say 'atrophy something.'