User Contributed Dictionary

English

From τέρας (teras) "monster" + -oid < εἶδος (eidos) "form, appearance"

In the context of "genetics|medicine": Monster-like, exhibiting abnormal development.

monster-like, exhibiting abnormal development

An abnormal tumor similar to a teratoma.
- 1903, Encyclopaedia Medica vol. 13, page 138:
In each of these divisions there are subdivisions, according as the parasite consists of a more or less recognisable fœtus, or only of a mass of fœtal tissue (teratomata, teratoids, dermoids).
- 2005, Richard A. Bordow, Andrew L. Ries, Timothy A. Morris, Manual of Clinical Problems in Pulmonary Medicine, 6th edition, page 610:
They can be divided into dermoids (only an epithelial layer present) and teratoids (all three germ layers present).
A mutant.
- 2002, Lance Olsen, "Omniphage: Rock 'n' Roll and Avant-Pop Science Fiction", in Edging Into the Future: Science Fiction and Contemporary Cultural Transformation http://books.google.com/books?id=2751nCbyOJQC, ISBN 0812218043, page 51:
I wanted to explore how at the launch of a new millennium many people were beginning to feel like teratoids in the global commodity exchange.
- 2002, Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson, translators, Natsume Soseki, I Am a Cat vol. 2, ISBN 080483265X, page 345:
The objects floating in the bath and lazing about on the bathroom's floor are all monsters, teratoids dehumanized by the husking of their clothes.
- 2007, Geoffrey Verdegast, Of Staves and Sigmas: Souls of Ergos Book One http://books.google.com/books?id=-JpydMGPjYMC, ISBN 1598582925, page 67:
He had little time, however, to ponder his lack of reflex, for new incident forced his attention back to the ridge where the four teratoids had first broken from cover.

an abnormal tumor