: the sessile form of cnidarian (such as a coral or sea anemone) typically having a hollow cylindrical body closed and attached at one end and opening at the other by a central mouth surrounded by tentacles armed with nematocysts
2
: a growth projecting from a mucous membrane (as of the colon or vocal cords)
Recent Examples on the WebDoctors found a polyp in her large intestine that was likely precancerous.Anchorage Daily News, 21 July 2022 During her screening last year, doctors discovered a polyp which was larger, and in a different location, than previous polyps.Anchorage Daily News, 21 July 2022 If a polyp is spotted during the course of a colonoscopy, it gets removed and retrieved for further testing. Kathryn Watson, SELF, 1 Apr. 2022 This week, Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the 79-year-old politician had a single, three-millimeter polyp removed from his ascending colon during the procedure that took place last week. Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE.com, 25 Nov. 2021 But even when a benign polyp is found during a simple screening, patients sometimes end up with an unexpected bill. Emmarie Huetteman, Fortune, 27 May 2022 Where the discovery of a polyp or a lump might avert progress of colon or breast cancer, blood cancer clinicians have few ways to treat patients who are on the cusp of developing cancer. Angus Chen, STAT, 24 Apr. 2022 Death is often preventable through regular screenings because colorectal cancer takes up to 10 to 15 years to develop from a collection of cells called a polyp, according to Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer Center. Caroline Catherman, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Feb. 2022 This allows a biopsy to be done or a polyp to be removed with a good safety record, although sometimes clotting factors still need to be given after the procedure. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 22 Dec. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
French polype octopus, nasal polyp, from Old French polipe, from Latin polypus, from Greek polypous, from poly- + pous foot — more at foot