Tu"mor (?), n. [L., fr. tumere to
swell: cf. F. tumeúr. See Tumid.] 1.
(Med.) A morbid swelling, prominence, or growth, on any part of
the body; especially, a growth produced by deposition of new tissue; a
neoplasm.
2. Affected pomp; bombast; swelling words or
expressions; false magnificence or sublimity. [R.]
Better, however, to be a flippant, than, by a revolting form
of tumor and perplexity, to lead men into habits of intellect such
as result from the modern vice of English style.
De
Quincey.
Encysted tumor, a tumor which is inclosed in a
membrane called a cyst, connected with the surrounding parts by the
neighboring cellular substance. -- Fatty tumor.
See under Fatty. -- Innocent tumor, or
Benign tumor, one which does not of itself threaten
life, and does not usually tend to recur after extirpation. --
Malignant tumor, a tumor which tends continually to
spread, to become generalized in different parts of the body, and to recur
after extirpation, and which, if left to itself, causes death.