leukemia

noun leu·ke·mia \lü-ˈkē-mē-ə\

medical : a very serious disease in which the body forms too many white blood cells

Full Definition of LEUKEMIA

: an acute or chronic disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood

— leu·ke·mic \-mik\ adjective or noun

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Origin of LEUKEMIA

New Latin

First Known Use: circa 1855

Rhymes with LEUKEMIA

anemia, bohemia, Bohemia, toxemia, uremia

LEUKEMIA Defined for Kids

leukemia

noun leu·ke·mia \lü-ˈkē-mē-ə\

Definition of LEUKEMIA for Kids

: a serious disease in which too many white blood cells are formed

Medical Dictionary

leukemia

noun leu·ke·mia \lü-ˈkē-mē-ə\

Medical Definition of LEUKEMIA

: an acute or chronic disease of unknown cause in humans and other warm-blooded animals that involves the blood-forming organs, is characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues of the body with or without a corresponding increase of those in the circulating blood, and is classified according to the type of white blood cell most prominently involved—see acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, feline leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, myelogenous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia