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
Mustang Bio's pipeline focuses on CAR T therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, with ongoing collaborations with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and City of Hope.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Dense breasts have more tissue and less fat, which makes reading mammograms more difficult as tissue and possible tumors both appear white in results, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Stopping oral contraceptives can sometimes shrink or heal the tumor.
—Robert Burakoff, Verywell Health, 1 Nov. 2024
Because of the sort of tumor her doctors suspected, the medical workup would require an injection of a chemical that would be deadly to the fetus.
—Essence, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tumor 
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Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Dense breasts have more tissue and less fat, which makes reading mammograms more difficult as tissue and possible tumors both appear white in results, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Stopping oral contraceptives can sometimes shrink or heal the tumor.
—Robert Burakoff, Verywell Health, 1 Nov. 2024
Because of the sort of tumor her doctors suspected, the medical workup would require an injection of a chemical that would be deadly to the fetus.
—Essence, 31 Oct. 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 23 Nov. 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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