lipoma: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ProfessionalMedical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “lipoma” mean?
A benign tumor composed of fatty tissue, usually just under the skin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A benign tumor composed of fatty tissue, usually just under the skin.
A slow-growing, soft, movable, and typically painless lump formed by an overgrowth of fat cells. In a medical context, it's a specific, non-cancerous diagnosis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling and pronunciation are standardised due to its technical Latin origin.
Connotations
None beyond the medical condition.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used almost exclusively in medical/clinical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “lipoma” in a Sentence
The patient has a lipoma on their [body part].The surgeon removed the lipoma.A lipoma was found during the scan.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lipoma” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The lipomatous tissue was clearly identifiable.
- It had a typical lipomatous appearance.
American English
- The mass was lipomatous in nature.
- A lipomatous growth was confirmed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and health science texts and lectures.
Everyday
Rarely used. A speaker might say 'a benign fatty lump' unless recounting a specific medical diagnosis.
Technical
Standard term in medical diagnosis, pathology, surgery, and dermatology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lipoma”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lipoma”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lipoma”
- Mispronouncing it as /laɪˈpoʊ.mə/ (like 'lip' + 'oma').
- Using it as a general term for any unexplained lump.
- Misspelling as 'lipomia' or 'lipomea'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a lipoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of fatty tissue.
Not usually. They are often left alone unless they cause pain, grow rapidly, or cause cosmetic concerns.
A lipoma is a solid mass of fat cells. A cyst is a sac filled with fluid, pus, or other material.
Extremely rarely. A liposarcoma is a different, malignant cancer that may arise de novo, not from a pre-existing benign lipoma.
A benign tumor composed of fatty tissue, usually just under the skin.
Lipoma is usually medical/technical in register.
Lipoma: in British English it is pronounced /lɪˈpəʊ.mə/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɪˈpoʊ.mə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LIPO' (relating to fat, as in liposuction) + '-OMA' (meaning tumour). A lipoma is a fatty tumour.
Conceptual Metaphor
A POCKET OF FAT (conceiving the growth as a contained, distinct accumulation).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'lipoma' most precisely used?