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   atrophy

   /ˈatrəfi/

   verb

   • 1. (of body tissue or an organ) waste away, especially as a result of the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution: "the calf muscles will atrophy" Similar waste awaywastebecome emaciatedwithershrivelshrivel upshrinkbecome shrunkendry updecaywiltdeclinedeterioratedegenerategrow weakweakenbecome debilitatedbecome enfeebledOpposite strengthen
   • 2. gradually decline in effectiveness or vigour due to underuse or neglect: "the imagination can atrophy from lack of use" Similar peter outtaper offtail offdwindledeterioratedeclinewanefadefade awayfade outgive ingive upgive waycrumbledisintegratecollapseslumpgo downhilldraw to a closesubsidebe neglectedbe abandonedbe disregardedbe forgottenOpposite flourish

   noun

   • 1. the process of atrophying or state of having atrophied: "gastric atrophy"

   Word Origin late 16th century: from French atrophier (verb), atrophie (noun), from late Latin atrophia, from Greek, ‘lack of food’, from atrophos ‘poorly nourished’, from a- ‘without’ + trophē ‘food’.

   Scrabble Points: 15

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   • Y

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