Is goitre contagious?

No, goitre is not contagious; it is a physiological response to iodine deficiency or other thyroid conditions.

Yes, depending on the cause. Iodine supplementation can cure deficiency-related goitre, while other types may require medication or surgery.

Is goitre the same as thyroid cancer?

No, goitre refers to enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is usually benign. Thyroid cancer is a malignant growth, though it can sometimes present as a nodule within a goitre.

Why is the spelling different in the US and UK?

The spelling 'goiter' follows American English simplification trends (cf. center/centre), while 'goitre' retains French-influenced spelling common in British English.

goitre

Low

UK/ˈɡɔɪtə/US/ˈɡɔɪtər/

Medical/Technical

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland.

A medical condition caused by iodine deficiency, autoimmune disease, or other thyroid disorders, leading to visible neck enlargement.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a medical term; rarely used in everyday conversation outside healthcare contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Spelling: 'goitre' (UK) vs. 'goiter' (US).

Connotations

Identical medical meaning in both varieties.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both regions, limited to medical contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

iodine deficiencythyroid glandneck swelling

medium

endemic goitretoxic goitresimple goitre

weak

large goitrevisible goitretreated for goitre

Grammar

Valency Patterns

suffer from goitrediagnosed with goitretreated for goitre

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

thyroid enlargement

Weak

neck swelling

Vocabulary

Antonyms

normal thyroideuthyroid state

Usage

Context Usage

Academic

Used in medical and public health research discussing iodine deficiency disorders.

Everyday

Rarely used; might appear in health discussions or historical contexts.

Technical

Standard term in endocrinology and clinical medicine for thyroid gland enlargement.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

goitrous condition

American English

goitrous condition

Examples

By CEFR Level

The doctor said the lump was a goitre.

A lack of iodine in the diet can cause goitre.

Endemic goitre was common in regions with iodine-deficient soil before supplementation programmes.

The patient's multinodular goitre, although asymptomatic, required monitoring for potential malignant transformation.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

GOITRE sounds like 'goiter' – think of a GOITRE making your neck GO OUT more.

Conceptual Metaphor

SWELLING AS A VISIBLE SIGN (of underlying deficiency or disease).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with 'горло' (throat) or 'зоб' (crop in birds); Russian 'зоб' can mean both animal crop and medical goitre.

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'goiter' in UK contexts or 'goitre' in US contexts.
Confusing with other neck swellings like lymphadenopathy.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Severe iodine deficiency often leads to the development of a noticeable .

Multiple Choice

What is the primary cause of endemic goitre?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, goitre is not contagious; it is a physiological response to iodine deficiency or other thyroid conditions.
: Yes, depending on the cause. Iodine supplementation can cure deficiency-related goitre, while other types may require medication or surgery.
: No, goitre refers to enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is usually benign. Thyroid cancer is a malignant growth, though it can sometimes present as a nodule within a goitre.
: The spelling 'goiter' follows American English simplification trends (cf. center/centre), while 'goitre' retains French-influenced spelling common in British English.