Uterine Fibroid
/ˈjuːtərɪn ˈfaɪbrɔɪd/noun
A usually noncancerous growth of smooth muscle and connective tissue that develops in or around the uterus.
Did you know?The term combines Latin uterus, meaning “womb,” with Greek-derived fibroid, meaning “fiber-like,” reflecting the tumor’s characteristic firm, whorled texture rather than any mystical cause.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
uterus
“Womb; uterus”
Classical Latin
Latin
fibra
“Fiber, thread, or sinew”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-oeidēs
“Resembling or having the form of; the source of the English suffix -oid”
17th Century
English
fibroid
“Fiber-like in structure or appearance”
19th Century
Medical English
uterine fibroid
“A fibrous or muscular tumor occurring in the uterus”
Modern English
English
uterine fibroid
“A generally benign smooth-muscle growth in or around the uterus”