ochronosis

English

Etymology

Borrowed from German Ochronosis, from Ancient Greek ὠχρός (ōkhrós, “pale yellow, sallow”) +‎ Ancient Greek νόσος (nósos, “sickness, disease, plague”) +‎ -osis (“disease, condition”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊ.kɹə(ʊ)ˈnəʊ.sɪs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌoʊ.kɹəˈnoʊ.sɪs/
• Rhymes: -əʊsɪs

Noun

ochronosis (uncountable)

1. (medicine, pharmacology) Abnormal brown pigmentation of tissue (especially cartilage and ligaments), specifically that resulting from the accumulation of a melanin-like pigment derived from homogentisic acid in the metabolic disorder alkaptonuria.

References

• “ochronosis”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “ochronosis”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.