degenerative disease — A medical condition that causes tissues or organs to deteriorate progressively over time
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A medical condition that causes tissues or organs to deteriorate progressively over time
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈdʒenərətɪv dɪˈziːz/
Example Sentences
- My grandfather's degenerative disease made him forget where he put his dentures... again.
- The doctor explained that arthritis is a degenerative disease that affects millions worldwide.
- Early diagnosis of degenerative diseases can help slow their progression significantly.
degenerative disease
NOUN[/dɪˈdʒenərətɪv dɪˈziːz/]
A medical condition that causes tissues or organs to deteriorate progressively over time

Years pass as a degenerative disease slowly weakens the old pianist's hands.

Fighting degenerative disease through cooperative care and operative skill!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term derives from Latin 'degenerare', meaning 'to fall away in quality' or 'to deteriorate'. It combines the prefix 'de-' (down, away) with 'generare' (to beget, produce), literally meaning 'the opposite of generation' or 'decline from an original state'.
Breakdown
de- (down, away from) + generare (to produce, beget) + -ive (adjective suffix indicating tendency or quality) + disease (condition of illness). The compound describes a pathological condition characterized by progressive decline or deterioration of tissue or organ function.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandfather's degenerative disease made him forget where he put his dentures... again.”
“The doctor explained that arthritis is a degenerative disease that affects millions worldwide.”
“Early diagnosis of degenerative diseases can help slow their progression significantly.”
“She jokes that her memory loss isn't a degenerative disease, just 'selective hearing' for chores.”
📚Related Words
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