Definition of: atrophy

(at′rə·fē) noun plural ·phies Pathol.
1. A wasting or withering of the body or any of its parts.
2. A stoppage of growth or development, as of a part.
—v. ·phied, ·phy·ing v.t To cause to waste away or wither; affect with atrophy.
—v.i. To waste away; wither. [<F atrophie <L atrophia <Gk. atrophia <a- not + trephein nourish]
—a·troph·ic (ə·trof′·ik), at·ro·phous (at′rə·fəs) adjective