Leukemia

Pronunciation

• IPA: /luːˈkiːmiÉ™/

Alternative forms

• leukaemia UK
• leucaemia
• leucæmia, leukæmia, leuchæmia, leukhæmia archaic

Origin

From German Leukämie, from Ancient Greek λευκός ("white") and αἷμα ("blood").

Full definition of leukemia

Noun

1. (US) A type of malignancy affecting the blood cells or blood-forming tissues.
• 2012-01, Philip E. Mirowski, Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits, In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance.
2. (US, countable) Any specific form or type of cancer of the blood-forming tissues.
   The subjects suffered from lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias.