1
: an abnormal benign or malignant new growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function and arises from uncontrolled usually rapid cellular proliferation
called also neoplasm
2
: a swollen or distended part
… houses that bulged with the tumors and warts of … ornamental architecture …—
W. A. White
W. A. White
Examples of tumor in a Sentence
the scan showed a small tumor in her abdomen
Recent Examples on the Web
The dog was in recovery at the time and on his first long walk since receiving surgery to remove two benign tumors two weeks prior.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
As a tumor begins, the cells start mutating more and more.
—Lisa Chase, Outside Online, 29 Nov. 2024
Neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins University performed the institution’s first two AR surgeries on patients in 2020, one for a spinal fusion surgery and another to remove a cancerous tumor.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
The technetium-99m flows into a person’s blood and collects, briefly, in parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, or a cancerous tumor.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tumor 
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Raven Brunner, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
As a tumor begins, the cells start mutating more and more.
—Lisa Chase, Outside Online, 29 Nov. 2024
Neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins University performed the institution’s first two AR surgeries on patients in 2020, one for a spinal fusion surgery and another to remove a cancerous tumor.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
The technetium-99m flows into a person’s blood and collects, briefly, in parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, or a cancerous tumor.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tumor
Dictionary Entries Near tumor
Cite this Entry
“Tumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumor. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tumor
noun
tu·mor
ˈt(y)ü-mər 
: an abnormal mass of tissue that arises from normal tissue cells and serves no useful purpose in the body
tumorous
adjective
ˈt(y)üm-(ə-)rəs
Medical Definition
tumor
noun
tu·mor
variants
or chiefly British tumour
: an abnormal benign or malignant new growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function and arises from uncontrolled usually rapid cellular proliferation see cancer sense 1, carcinoma, sarcoma
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