First Known Use: 1742
Dictionary
polyp
noun pol·yp \ˈpä-ləp\
medical : a small lump that grows inside your body (such as inside your colon or on your vocal cords)
: a small sea animal (such as a coral) that has a body shaped like a tube
Full Definition of POLYP
1
: a coelenterate (as a coral) that has typically a hollow cylindrical body closed and attached at one end and opening at the other by a central mouth surrounded by tentacles armed with nematocysts
2
: a growth projecting from a mucous membrane (as of the colon or vocal cords)
— pol·yp·oid \-lə-ˌpȯid\ adjective
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Origin of POLYP
French polype octopus, nasal polyp, from Old French polipe, from Latin polypus, from Greek polypous, from poly- + pous foot — more at foot
POLYP Defined for Kids
polyp
noun pol·yp \ˈpä-ləp\
Definition of POLYP for Kids
: a small sea animal (as a coral) having a tubelike body closed and attached to something (as a rock) at one end and opening at the other with a mouth surrounded by tentacles
Medical Dictionary
polyp
noun pol·yp \ˈpäl-əp\
Medical Definition of POLYP
: a projecting mass of swollen and hypertrophied or tumorous membrane (as in the nasal cavity or the intestine)—called also polypus
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