necrosis
n.n. the death of cells or tissues in the body that is not caused by a disease or injury. It often happens when the blood supply to an area is cut off.
n. the death of cells or tissues in an organism, typically as a result of disease, injury, or lack of blood supply. It is a form of cell death that is not a programmed process.
The doctor explained that the necrosis was caused by a blocked artery.
The rapid onset of necrosis in the muscle tissue indicated a severe lack of oxygen, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent systemic complications.
From Ancient Greek νέκρωσις (nékrōsis), equivalent to necro- + -osis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 19, 2026