crecimiento excesivo
Lemma Details
Translation: overgrowth; excessive growth; hypertrophy
Part of Speech: noun phrase
Etymology: Compound term from 'crecimiento' (growth) and 'excesivo' (excessive). 'Crecimiento' derives from the verb 'crecer' (to grow), which comes from Latin 'crescere' (to grow, increase), sharing roots with English words like 'increase', 'crescendo', and 'crescent'. 'Excesivo' comes from Latin 'excessivus', related to 'excedere' (to exceed), which gives us the English cognate 'excessive'.
Commonality: 50%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El crecimiento excesivo de algas está afectando el ecosistema del lago.
The overgrowth of algae is affecting the lake's ecosystem.
El médico detectó un crecimiento excesivo de tejido en el pulmón.
The doctor detected an overgrowth of tissue in the lung.
El crecimiento excesivo de la población urbana ha creado problemas de vivienda.
The excessive growth of the urban population has created housing problems.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'crecimiento' as related to 'increase' and 'excesivo' as 'excessive' - together they form 'excessive increase'.
- Visualize plants growing wildly beyond their normal boundaries to remember 'crecimiento excesivo'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
Commonly used in medical contexts to describe abnormal tissue growth, but also appears in environmental discussions regarding invasive species or urban development.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Crecimiento excesivo' refers to growth that is beyond normal or healthy limits, while 'crecimiento acelerado' refers to growth that happens at a faster rate than normal but isn't necessarily unhealthy or problematic.
Confused word:
El niño experimentó un crecimiento acelerado durante la pubertad.
The child experienced accelerated growth during puberty.
Notes: In medical contexts, 'crecimiento excesivo' often has negative connotations, while 'crecimiento acelerado' can be neutral or even positive.
Mnemonic: 'Excesivo' relates to 'excess' (too much), while 'acelerado' relates to 'acceleration' (faster speed).