Polyp (Noun)
Meaning 1
A small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The doctor removed a large polyp from the patient's sinus cavity during the procedure.
- Polyps can cause nasal congestion, loss of smell, and difficulty breathing in affected individuals.
- The presence of multiple polyps in the colon is often an indicator of a higher risk for colorectal cancer.
- A polyp was found on the patient's vocal cord during the laryngoscopy examination.
- During the biopsy, it was determined that the polyp was non-cancerous but would still need to be monitored.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
One of two forms that coelenterates take (e.g. a hydra or coral): usually sedentary with a hollow cylindrical body usually with a ring of tentacles around the mouth; "in some species of coelenterate, polyps are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with a medusoid phase".
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Corals are colonies of tiny animals called polyps that are embedded in a hard, calcium carbonate exoskeleton.
- The polyp phase of certain species, such as jellyfish, usually occurs early in their life cycle before they metamorphose into a medusoid form.
- Siphonophores can exist in either the polyp or medusoid form or, sometimes, as a colony of both, known as a siphonophore colony.
- Aquarium hobbyists attempt to cultivate coral polyps on artificial reefs in the hopes of promoting healthy marine ecosystems and increasing biodiversity.
- In these animals, known as coelenterates, the life cycle alternates between the polyp stage, where the creature has a fixed location, and the free-swimming medusoid form.