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Glite Dictionary
icteric

icteric

1 9.9
Having yellow skin and eyes because of liver problems
  • adjective
  • /ɪkˈtɛrɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : icterico
  • Doctors immediately suspected liver dysfunction when she developed an icteric complexion.

Examples

  • The patient appeared icteric during the examination.

  • An icteric tinge was noted in the newborn shortly after birth.

  • The patient appeared icteric, with yellowish discoloration of his eyes and skin.

  • Is the baby icteric after the tests?

  • The patient's skin appeared icteric, indicating a problem with liver function.

  • After the blood test, the doctor noted that he was icteric and needed further evaluation.

  • The nurse observed that the newborn was icteric, prompting her to check for jaundice.

Synonyms

yellow
vsicteric
  • Specialized
45 7.4

Having skin the color of a lemon because of illness

is a clinical adjective referring to that medical yellowing
jaundiced
vsicteric
  • Specialized
3 7.7

Having yellow skin and eyes because of a liver or blood problem

is a more technical medical adjective for the same yellowing

How Yellow

icteric
  • Specialized
1 9.9
sallow
7 7.7
yellowish
11 1.1

Surface Forms

icteric positive

Morphology

icteric = icterus (opaque) = icter + ic

Although the form is a regular adjectival suffixation from the medical noun 'icterus', the noun and combining form are specialized and unfamiliar to average learners, so the relation does not help most learners infer meaning.

Etymology

The word icteric comes from the Greek word ikteros, meaning 'yellow' or 'jaundice'. So, to be icteric is to have the yellow colour of the skin or eyes that doctors call jaundice.