lymph

¹

[limf]

noun

1. Anatomy, Physiology.,  a clear yellowish, slightly alkaline, coagulable fluid, containing white blood cells in a liquid resembling blood plasma, that is derived from the tissues of the body and conveyed to the bloodstream by the lymphatic vessels.

2. Archaic.,  the sap of a plant.

3. Archaic.,  a stream or spring of clear, pure water.

lymph-

²

1. variant of lympho- before a vowel.

   lymphoma.

lymph

/ lɪmf /

noun

1. the almost colourless fluid, containing chiefly white blood cells, that is collected from the tissues of the body and transported in the lymphatic system

lymph

1. The clear fluid flowing through the lymphatic system that serves to bathe and nourish the tissues of the body. It is composed of blood plasma that has leaked out through the capillaries into the tissues.

lymph

1. A clear, colorless fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system. Lymph fills the tissue spaces of the body.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lymph¹

1620–30; < Latin lympha water (earlier *limpa; limpid ); pseudo-Greek form, by association with nympha < Greek nýmphē nymph

Word History and Origins

Origin of lymph¹

C17: from Latin lympha water, from earlier limpa influenced in form by Greek numphē nymph

Example Sentences

Stage 2 means that the cancer has grown larger and has possibly spread to nearby lymph nodes.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 80% of plague cases in the U.S. have been in the bubonic form, from which patients will develop swollen, painful lymph nodes called buboes, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times

In the decade that followed, Jones said, he underwent lung surgery twice and lymph node surgery two times as well.

From Los Angeles Times

During this first stage, infected people can experience a fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains or swollen lymph nodes.

From Los Angeles Times

Symptoms of the bubonic plague in humans typically appear within two to eight days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headache, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes.

From BBC

When To Use

What does lymph- mean?

Lymph- is a combining form used like a prefix indicating lymph, an important liquid in the body that contains white blood cells and is conveyed to the bloodstream through lymphatic vessels. Lymph- is used in many medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.Lymph- comes from the Latin lympha, meaning “water.” This Latin root has been connected to the Greek word nýmphē, source of nymph in English. Discover more at our entry for nymph.Lymph- is a variant of lympho-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use lympho- article.Closely related to lymph- and lympho- is lymphangi-, a combining form meaning “lymph vessel” and connected to the combining form angio-.