Definition

1. Noun:
   • An abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose: A "tumor" is a growth of cells in the body that is not normal. This mass, also called a neoplasm, forms when cells divide and grow more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Usage

• The word "tumor" is a countable noun. It is used to describe a specific, localized growth.
• It is a medical and scientific term. In everyday conversation, people might use the simpler word "growth" or "lump."
• The spelling "tumour" is standard in British English, while "tumor" is standard in American English.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The scan revealed a small tumor in her lung. (The scan showed an abnormal mass of tissue in her lung.)
  • Benign tumors are usually not life-threatening. (Non-cancerous growths are usually not dangerous to life.)
  • The surgeon successfully removed the brain tumor. (The doctor cut out the abnormal mass from the brain.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tumor burden": This refers to the total amount of tumor tissue (number of cancer cells, size of tumors) in the body.
  • The new treatment aims to reduce the patient's tumor burden.
• "Tumor marker": A substance found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that can indicate the presence of cancer.
  • Doctors checked his blood for specific tumor markers.

Variants and Related Words

• Tumour (n): The British English spelling of "tumor."
• Tumorous (adj): Relating to or resembling a tumor.
  • The biopsy showed tumorous tissue.
• Neoplasm (n): The formal medical term for a new, abnormal growth of tissue (a synonym for tumor).
• Oncology (n): The branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of tumors (cancer).

Synonyms

• Growth: A general term for something that has grown, often used instead of "tumor" in non-medical language.
• Neoplasm: The technical term for a new and abnormal growth of tissue.
• Lump: A shapeless mass; often used to describe a tumor that can be felt under the skin.

Antonyms

• Healthy tissue: Normal, functioning cells in the body.
• Atrophy: The wasting away or decrease in size of an organ or tissue, which is the opposite of abnormal growth.

Common Collocations and Phrases

• Benign tumor: A tumor that is not cancerous; it grows slowly and does not spread.
• Malignant tumor: A cancerous tumor; it can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
• Brain tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue in the brain.
• Tumor removal / resection: The surgical operation to take out a tumor.
• Tumor growth: The process of a tumor increasing in size.

Noun

1. an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose