a fatty deposit on or within the inner lining of an artery, often causing an obstruction to the blood flow
Derived forms
atheromatous (ˌæθəˈrɒmətəs, -ˈrəʊ-)
adjective
Word origin
C18: via Latin from Greek athērōma tumour full of matter resembling gruel, from athēra gruel
atheroma in American English
(ˌæθərˈoʊmə)
nounWord forms: pluralˌatherˈomas or ˌatherˈomata (ˌæθəˈroʊmətə)
a condition marked by deposits of small fatty nodules on the inner walls of the arteries, often accompanied by degeneration of the affected areas; also, such a nodule or arterial plaque