Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A craving to eat ice, often associated with anemia resulting from iron deficiency.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
pathologic consumption ofice , a manifestation ofpica , often resulting fromiron or nutritional deficiencies.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Greek pagos, stiff mass, frost (from pēnunai, pag-, to stick, stiffen; see pag- in Indo-European roots) + –phagia.]
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Examples
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vanishedone commented on the word pagophagia
Oddee: 'Pagophagia is an obsessive need to chew on ice. Scientific research shows Pagophagia can be a sign of low iron in the blood.'
November 5, 2008
bilby commented on the word pagophagia
It's weird how Wordie sneaks up on you. I managed to bite my lip yesterday evening and spent a few hours chewing ice.
November 12, 2008
Prolagus commented on the word pagophagia
See also crystallodacnophilia.
November 12, 2008