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countable and uncountable, plural atrophies
(pathology) A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.
third-person singular simple present atrophies, present participle atrophying, simple past and past participle atrophied
(intransitive) To wither or waste away. quotations examples
Boy. I love summer vacation. I can feel my brain beginning to atrophy already.
1987 June 13, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic)
The M10 highway looks normal enough at the southern limits of St. Petersburg, but then, with a jolt, it begins to atrophy. For the next 430 miles the surface of the highway, while paved, varies from corduroy to jaw-rattling patchwork.
2013 October 13, Ellen Barry, “The Russia Left Behind: A journey through a heartland on the slow road to ruin”, in The New York Times
(transitive) To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken. quotations examples
Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion
2001, Tool (lyrics and music), “Schism”