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Glite Dictionary
marasmus

marasmus

1 9.9
Severe lack of food that makes a child very thin and weak
  • noun
  • /məˈræsməs/
  • Specialized
: marasmo
  • Kwashiorkor and marasmus (previously seen mainly in children) are now frequent among young children.

Examples

  • A marasmus was taking place.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The children with marasmus or marasmic-kwashiorkor were more stunted than those with kwashiorkor.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Radioactivity had to be the cause of the marasmus.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "That's where the marasmus comes in, isn't it?"

    Fiction book (2001)

  • At first, it cries out for attention, then sinks into a depression, and finally dies in a condition known as marasmus.

    Blog text (33)

  • And the Vibes, though scared by their epidemic of marasmus, were flatly terrified by Charris.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Safura seems to correspond to two diseases in Western medicine: marasmus and hookworm (Manyandikiya; Pombe).

    Academic text (1991)

  • The Vibes were very clear about all that, and when Charris wanted to help them deal with the plague of marasmus, the Vibes listened carefully and patiently, and then started screaming for help.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The Vibe was fairly insistent about being allowed to solve the problem of the marasmus epidemic on his own, or rather with a convocation of Vibes, instead of dragging human beings into it; we were not, it seemed, equipped to understand.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The medical team recognized that the child was suffering from marasmus, a severe form of malnutrition due to insufficient nutrient intake.

Synonyms

starvation
vsmarasmus
83 4.7

A very strong hunger that happens when someone has no food for a long time

is about severe wasting from nutrient deficiency rather than long hunger
malnutrition
vsmarasmus
  • Specialized
28 5.1

A health problem when the body does not get or use the right food

is narrower, referring to severe wasting caused by inadequate intake or absorption
malnourishment
vsmarasmus
2 4.8

Not having enough food and nutrients to be healthy and grow

is more severe and causes wasting especially in young children
undernutrition
vsmarasmus
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A lack of enough food and the nutrients a body needs for good health

is about extreme wasting and severity rather than general nutrient lack
undernourishment
vsmarasmus
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A lack of enough food to grow or be healthy

focuses on severe wasting rather than general growth or function problems

Antonyms

well-nourished
3 3.4

Having enough healthy food to grow and stay healthy

Surface Forms

marasmus singular
maramuses plural

Etymology

Marasmus comes from the Greek word marasmos, which means 'withering' or 'drying up', and from marainō meaning 'to waste away'. So marasmus describes severe wasting of the body from lack of food, like a plant that slowly dries up.