atopy
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English
[edit]
Etymology
[edit]From Ancient Greek ἀτοπία (atopía), from ἄτοπος (átopos), from ἀ- (a-) + τόπος (tópos, “place”). By surface analysis, a- + -topy (“out of place”).
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]atopy (countable and uncountable, plural atopies)
- (medicine) A hereditary disorder marked by the tendency to develop localized immediate hypersensitivity reactions to allergens such as pollen, food etc and is manifested by hay fever, asthma, or similar allergic conditions; generally considered to be caused by the interaction of environmental and genetic factors.
- 1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 67:
- Whatever factor is invoked to explain the increase in asthma must also be capable of explaining other outbreaks of atopy.
- A person suffering from atopic syndrome; a case of atopy.
Synonyms
[edit]Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]hereditary disorder