tumour

English

Etymology

From Middle English tumour, from Old French tumour, from Latin tumor (“swelling”), from tumeō (“bulge, swell”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (“to swell”). Related to English thumb.

Noun

tumour (plural tumours)

1. (oncology, pathology) An abnormal growth; differential diagnosis includes abscess, metaplasia, and neoplasia.

Usage notes

Tumour is the favoured spelling throughout the English-speaking world with the exception of the United States, where tumor is standard.

Derived terms

• tumourigenesis

Translations

tumor — see tumor

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Middle English

Etymology

From Old French tumour, from Latin tumor.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtiu̯mur/, /tiu̯ˈmuːr/

Noun

tumour (plural tumours) (Late Middle English)

1. tumour (abnormal or morbid bodily growth)
2. The growth of tumours or boils.

Descendants

• English: tumour, tumor

References

• “tumǒur, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-08-30.

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Old French

Alternative forms

• tumeur

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tumor.

Noun

tumour f (oblique plural tumours, nominative singular tumour, nominative plural tumours)

1. tumor (abnormal swelling of an animal's living tissue)
   • 1288, Somme Me Gautier

     Tumour ou enflour

Descendants

• French: tumeur
• → Middle English: tumour
  • English: tumour, tumor