gigantism

views updated May 11 2018

gi·gan·tism / jīˈgantizəm/ • n. chiefly Biol. unusual or abnormal largeness. ∎  Med. excessive growth due to hormonal imbalance. ∎  Bot. excessive size in plants due to polyploidy.

gigantism

views updated May 14 2018

gigantism (jy-gan-tizm) n. abnormal growth causing excessive height, most commonly due to oversecretion during childhood of growth hormone (somatotrophin) by the pituitary gland.

gigantism

views updated Jun 11 2018

gigantism See growth hormone.