1. An itching or painful mass of dilated veins in swollen anal tissue.
2. hemorrhoids The pathological condition in which such painful masses occur. Also called piles.

[From Middle English emoroides, hemorrhoids, from Old French emoroides, from Latin haemorrhoidae, from Greek haimorrhoïdes, pl. of haimorrhoïs, from haimorrhoos, flowing with blood : haimo-, hemo- + rhein, to flow.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.