cysts
|cysts|
/sɪst/
(cyst)
sac-like structure
Etymology
'cyst' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'kystis', where 'kystis' meant 'bladder' or 'sac'.
'cyst' passed into Latin as 'cysta' and Medieval Latin, entered Middle English as 'cyste', and eventually became the modern English word 'cyst'.
Initially, it meant 'bladder' or 'bag' (a general pouch), but over time it evolved to refer more specifically to a sac-like structure or pathological sac (an enclosed lesion) in biological and medical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a closed sac or capsule in the body that contains fluid, semi-solid material, or gas; often an abnormal, usually benign, sac-like growth or lesion.
The ultrasound revealed several cysts on her ovaries.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/26 06:05