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atrophy

The wasting away of a body organ or tissue, typically due to the degeneration of cells. / To waste away; to decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect. / To cause a body part or organ to waste away.
Intransitive VerbTransitive Verb[U] Uncountable
pl: atrophiespast: atrophiedpp: atrophieding: atrophyingcomp: []sup: []

This term carries a heavy sense of loss and deterioration. In a medical sense, it describes a physical shrinking and loss of function, often evoking images of fragility or illness. It is a clinical term that implies a biological failure to maintain mass.

When used outside of medicine, it describes the erosion of a skill or a mental faculty. It suggests that a capability is not simply forgotten, but has physically or structurally withered because it was not exercised, creating a feeling of permanent or difficult-to-reverse decay.

Used to describe the general process of wasting away, such as saying there is significant atrophy in the limb.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Leo is lying on his bed gaming while Ryan is at work.
Leo

my aim is actually trash. my skills are starting to atrophy.

my aim is actually trash. my skills are starting to atrophy.

Leo
Ryan
Ryan

bet. just grind some deathmatch and you'll be gucci.

bet. just grind some deathmatch and you'll be gucci.

Meanings

Noun

The wasting away of a body organ or tissue, typically due to the degeneration of cells.

Muscle atrophy can occur after a long period of immobilization in a cast.

Intransitive Verb
[~ body part or skill]

To waste away; to decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect.

Without regular exercise, the muscles in his legs began to atrophy.

Transitive Verb
[~ body part or organ]

To cause a body part or organ to waste away.

The disease may atrophy the brain's hippocampus over several years.

Examples

Muscle atrophy can occur after a long period of immobilization in a cast.

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Without regular exercise, the muscles in his legs began to atrophy.

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The disease may atrophy the brain's hippocampus over several years.

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Phrasal Verbs

atrophy away

to gradually waste away or disappear completely

The unused muscles in the limb began to atrophy away during the long recovery process.

Related Words

Last Updated: July 7, 2026Report an Error