osteoarthritis

noun os·te·o·ar·thri·tis \ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs\

medical : a disease that causes the joints to become very painful and stiff

Full Definition of OSTEOARTHRITIS

: arthritis marked by degeneration of the cartilage and bone of joints

— os·te·o·ar·thrit·ic \-ˈthri-tik\ adjective

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Origin of OSTEOARTHRITIS

New Latin

First Known Use: 1878

Medical Dictionary

osteoarthritis

noun os·teo·ar·thri·tis \ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs\

plural os·teo·ar·thrit·i·des \-ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz\

Medical Definition of OSTEOARTHRITIS

: arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by degenerative and sometimes hypertrophic changes in the bone and cartilage of one or more joints and a progressive wearing down of apposing joint surfaces with consequent distortion of joint position and is marked symptomatically especially by pain, swelling, and stiffness—abbreviation OA; called also degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis; compare rheumatoid arthritis

—os·teo·ar·thrit·ic \-ˈthrit-ik\ adjective