hypertrophy

1 of 2

noun

hy·​per·​tro·​phy hī-ˈpər-trə-fē 

plural hypertrophies

1

biology : excessive development of an organ or part

specifically : increase in bulk (as by thickening of muscle fibers) without multiplication of parts

cardiac hypertrophy

2

: exaggerated growth or complexity

economic hypertrophy

hypertrophic

ˌhī-pər-ˈtrō-fik 

adjective

hypertrophy

2 of 2

verb

hypertrophied; hypertrophying

intransitive verb

: to undergo hypertrophy (see hypertrophy entry 1)

A healthy kidney hypertrophies when the other fails.

hypertrophied nationalism

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Breaking Down Hypertrophy

When the prefix hyper-, "above, beyond", is joined to -trophy, we get the opposite of atrophy. An organ or part becomes hypertrophic when it grows so extremely that its function is affected. Muscle hypertrophy is common in men who do strength training, and is often harmless; but extreme muscle hypertrophy generally involves taking steroids, which can do great damage to the body. Hypertrophy of the heart sounds as if it might be healthy, but instead it's usually a bad sign. Hypertrophy, like atrophy, can be used in nonmedical ways as well to describe something with exaggerated growth or complexity.

Examples of hypertrophy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At the cellular level, inflammation triggers molecular pathways that contribute to an increase in the size (hypertrophy) of cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes), which can negatively affect heart function. —New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2024

The report says Noble died of cardiomegaly, defined as an enlarged heart, as well as biventricular hypertrophy, the thickening of the heart walls. —Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024

Verb

How to transition from strength to hypertrophy training? —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022

Plus, of course, using weights as resistance helps to increase muscle activation and stabilization, leading to overload and hypertrophy. —Jeff Tomko, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

probably from New Latin hypertrophia, from hyper- + -trophia -trophy

First Known Use

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hypertrophy

• benign prostatic hypertrophy

Medical Definition

hypertrophy

1 of 2 noun

hy·​per·​tro·​phy hī-ˈpər-trə-fē 

plural hypertrophies

: excessive development of an organ or part

specifically : increase in bulk (as by thickening of muscle fibers) without multiplication of parts

ventricular hypertrophy

hypertrophy

2 of 2 intransitive verb

hypertrophied; hypertrophying

: to undergo hypertrophy