Definition

A small, non-cancerous growth on the skin or mucous membranes, often resembling a wart, caused by an overgrowth of cells.

Example

The doctor removed the papilloma from the patient's skin during the procedure.

Conversation

I read about this thing called a papilloma the other day.

Oh really? What is it exactly?

It's a benign tumor, like a wart, that grows on the skin.

That sounds kind of interesting, but also a bit weird!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Papilloma is formed from "papilla" (from Latin, meaning nipple or small projection) and "-oma" (from Greek, meaning tumor or swelling). The word refers to a tumor that resembles a small projection or nipple-like structure.

Memory Tip

Think of a small 'nipple-like' projection ('papilla') that forms a 'tumor' ('-oma') — that's what a papilloma is.

Visually Confused Words