osteomalacia

noun os·te·o·ma·la·cia \ˌäs-tē-ō-mə-ˈlā-sh(ē-)ə\

Definition of OSTEOMALACIA

: a disease of adults that is characterized by softening of the bones and is analogous to rickets in the young

New Latin, from oste- + Greek malakia softness, from malakos soft — more at mollify

First Known Use: circa 1834

Medical Dictionary

noun os·teo·ma·la·cia \ˌäs-tē-ō-mə-ˈlā-sh(ē-)ə\

: a disease of adults that is characterized by softening of the bones and is analogous to rickets in the young

—os·teo·ma·la·cic \-ˈlā-sik\ adjective

Next Word in the Dictionary: osteomyelitisPrevious Word in the Dictionary: osteomaAll Words Near: osteomalacia

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