atrophy

Universal Words noun, verb noun [U] (medical) the condition of losing flesh, muscle, strength, etc. in a part of the body because it does not have enough blood: (figurative, formal) The cultural life of the country will sink into atrophy unless more writers and artists emerge. verb (atrophies, atrophying, atrophied, atrophied) [V] if a part of the body atrophies, it becomes weak because it is not used or because it does not have enough blood: (figurative) Memory can atrophy through lack of use. atrophied adjective: atrophied muscles * atrophied religious values