degenerative arthritis

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Word: Degenerative Arthritis

Definition: Degenerative arthritis is a type of joint disease that happens when the cartilage (the smooth tissue at the ends of bones) wears away over time. This often leads to pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected joints. It is the most common form of arthritis and usually occurs in people after middle age.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Context: You can use "degenerative arthritis" when talking about joint pain and conditions related to aging or wear and tear on the joints.

Example Sentence:

• "My grandmother has degenerative arthritis in her knees, which makes it hard for her to walk."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, you might see it discussed in medical literature or when talking about treatment options such as physical therapy or surgery.

Word Variants:

• Degeneration (noun): The process of getting worse over time.
• Degenerative (adjective): Relating to the deterioration of a part of the body, like joints.

Different Meanings:

While "degenerative arthritis" specifically refers to joint issues, "degenerative" can describe other conditions where things break down or worsen over time, such as in "degenerative disc disease" (related to the spine).

Synonyms:

• Osteoarthritis (this is the most common synonym and is often used interchangeably)
• Wear-and-tear arthritis

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "degenerative arthritis," but you can use phrases like "fall apart" to describe how joints can feel as they deteriorate.

Summary:

Degenerative arthritis is a chronic condition related to the breakdown of cartilage in joints, often affecting older adults.

Academic

Noun

1. chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints; the most common form of arthritis occurring usually after middle age

Synonyms

• osteoarthritis
• degenerative joint disease