anaplastic
|an-a-plas-tic|
/ˌæn.əˈplæs.tɪk/
loss of cell differentiation
Etymology
'anaplastic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anaplastikos,' where 'ana-' meant 'again' and 'plassein' meant 'to form.'
'anaplastikos' was adopted into modern medical terminology as 'anaplastic' in English, especially in the context of pathology and oncology.
Initially, it meant 'able to be formed again,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to cells that have lost their normal differentiation, often in cancer.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characterized by a loss of differentiation in cells, often associated with malignancy or cancer.
Anaplastic tumors tend to grow and spread more rapidly than well-differentiated ones.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/30 01:36