tumor

/tjuː.mə/noun

A lump of tissue that grows abnormally in the body; it can be harmless or cancerous.

Example sentences

“The scan showed a small tumor, which turned out to be harmless.”
“Surgeons removed the tumor from her lung last spring.”
“Doctors are watching the tumor to see if it grows.”

The standard pairing is 'benign' (harmless) versus 'malignant' (cancerous). British English spells it 'tumour'.

Synonyms for tumor

growth
lump

Related words

cancerAn illness in which cells in part of the body begin to grow and multiply out of control.malignantDescribing a tumor or disease that is cancerous, grows quickly, and can spread to other parts of the body.diabetesA long-term disease in which the body cannot properly control the amount of sugar in the blood.benignNot cancerous; describing a growth or condition that will not spread or threaten your health.asthmaA chronic breathing disorder in which the airways can suddenly tighten, often triggered by allergens, cold air, exercise, or stress.terminalThe building at an airport where travelers move between ground transport and their flights.