• Teratoid

    Pronunciation

    • RP IPA: /ˈtÉ›r.É™.tɔɪd/

    Origin

    From - + oid + -

    Full definition of teratoid

    Adjective

    teratoid

    1. (genetics, medicine) Monster-like, exhibiting abnormal development.

    Synonyms

    Noun

    teratoid

    (plural teratoids)
    1. (medicine) An abnormal tumor similar to a teratoma.
      • 1903, Encyclopaedia Medica vol. 13, page 138:In each of these divisions there are subdivisions, according as the parasite consists of a more or less recognisable fÅ“tus, or only of a mass of fÅ“tal tissue (teratomata, teratoids, dermoids).
      • 2005, Richard A. Bordow, Andrew L. Ries, Timothy A. Morris, Manual of Clinical Problems in Pulmonary Medicine, 6th edition, page 610:They can be divided into dermoids (only an epithelial layer present) and teratoids (all three germ layers present).
    2. (literature) A mutant.
      • 2002, Lance Olsen, "Omniphage: Rock 'n' Roll and Avant-Pop Science Fiction", in Edging Into the Future: Science Fiction and Contemporary Cultural Transformation http://books.google.com/books?id=2751nCbyOJQC, ISBN 0812218043, page 51:I wanted to explore how at the launch of a new millennium many people were beginning to feel like teratoids in the global commodity exchange.
      • 2002, Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson, translators, Natsume Soseki, I Am a Cat vol. 2, ISBN 080483265X, page 345:The objects floating in the bath and lazing about on the bathroom's floor are all monsters, teratoids dehumanized by the husking of their clothes.
      • 2007, Geoffrey Verdegast, Of Staves and Sigmas: Souls of Ergos Book One http://books.google.com/books?id=-JpydMGPjYMC, ISBN 1598582925, page 67:He had little time, however, to ponder his lack of reflex, for new incident forced his attention back to the ridge where the four teratoids had first broken from cover.
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