paralysis
noun
Simple meaning
Loss of the ability to move a body part.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
peraluhsuhsSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
pɚˈæləsəs
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
pathology
Loss of the ability to move a body part
pathology
The complete loss of voluntary control of part of a person's body, such as one or more limbs.
A state of being unable to act.
Word at a Glance
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Formality
- Technical
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination.
Paralysis of the arm resulting from injury to the brachial plexus (usually during childbirth).
Weakness or loss of muscle tone resulting from injury or disease of the nerves innervating the muscles.
An acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the brain stem and spinal cord.
A form of peripheral polyneuritis characterized by pain and weakness and sometimes paralysis of the limbs.
A loss or deficiency of motor control with involuntary spasms caused by permanent brain damage present at birth.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: loss of the ability to move a body part
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