cirrhosis

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cir·rho·sis / səˈrōsəs/ • n. a chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue. It is typically a result of alcoholism or hepatitis.DERIVATIVES: cir·rhot·ic / səˈrätik/ adj.ORIGIN: early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kirrhos ‘tawny’ (because this is the color of the liver in many cases).

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