gigantism
Noun: 1. Excessive largeness of stature: A condition characterized by an abnormally large and tall body size. 2. Excessive size; usually caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland: A medical disorder resulting from the overproduction of growth hormone (somatotropin) during childhood or adolescence, before the growth plates in the bones have closed, leading to abnormal and proportional overgrowth.
- Noun:
- The ancient legend spoke of a race of people afflicted with gigantism.
- Gigantism is a rare endocrine disorder that requires specialized medical treatment.
- The museum's exhibit on medical anomalies included historical cases of gigantism.
- In a metaphorical or figurative sense: Used to describe anything of extraordinarily or excessively large scale, though this is less common.
- The gigantism of the new skyscraper dominated the city's skyline. (Here, it metaphorically suggests an extreme, almost unnatural largeness.)
- Gigantic (adj): Of very great size or extent; enormous.
- They faced a gigantic task.
- Giant (n): A person or thing of unusually great size, power, or importance.
- He is a giant in the field of physics.
- Macrosomia: (Medical term) A condition of excessive birth weight and size.
- Overgrowth: Excessive growth or development.
- Giantism: A less common synonym for gigantism.
- Dwarfism: A condition of being abnormally small in stature.
- Microsomia: A condition of abnormally small body size.
It is important to distinguish gigantism from acromegaly. Both are caused by excessive growth hormone, but gigantism occurs when the excess begins in childhood, leading to proportional overgrowth. Acromegaly occurs when the excess begins in adulthood, after growth plates have closed, leading to disproportionate growth of bones in the hands, feet, and face.
- excessive largeness of stature
- excessive size; usually caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland