n., pl., -mas, or -ma·ta (-mə-tə).
A deposit or degenerative accumulation of lipid-containing plaques on the innermost layer of the wall of an artery.
[Latin athērōma, tumor full of pus that is like gruel, from Greek, from athēra, gruel.]
atheromatosis ath'er·o·ma·to'sis (-tō'sĭs) n.atheromatous ath'er·om'a·tous (-rŏm'ə-təs, -rō'mə-) adj.
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.
