Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Abnormally swollen or knotted.
  • adjective Characterized by or resulting from varicose veins.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of or relating to varix: affected with varix.
  • Designed for the cure or relief of varicose veins: applied to elastic fabrics made into stockings, bandages, etc., used for this purpose.
  • In zoöl, rominent and tortuous, as formations upon a shell; resembling or having varices; varicated

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Irregularly swollen or enlarged; affected with, or containing, varices, or varicosities; of or pertaining to varices, or varicosities.
  • adjective (Med.) Intended for the treatment of varicose veins; -- said of elastic stockings, bandages, and the like.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective abnormally swollen, dilated or knotty

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective abnormally swollen or knotty

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin varicōsus, from varix, varic-, swollen vein.]

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Examples

  • 'You're only home-sick, and what you call varicose veins come from over-eating.

    Life's Handicap Rudyard Kipling 1900

  • Blue swollen veins in the legs and around the vagina are called varicose veins.

    Chapter 11 1997

  • As to the _legs_, the so-called varicose veins are indications of weak blood-vessels and intestinal hemorrhage, while inflamed nerves lead to the conclusion of gouty diathesis and the danger of paralytic strokes.

    Valere Aude Dare to Be Healthy, Or, The Light of Physical Regeneration Louis Dechmann

  • This leads to scratching and sores, and these may enlarge and become what are called varicose ulcers, which are slow and difficult of healing.

    The Home Medical Library, Volume II (of VI) Kenelm Winslow

  • -- The distention of the surface veins of the legs, the condition known as varicose veins, is not a peculiarity of pregnancy.

    The Prospective Mother, a Handbook for Women During Pregnancy 1912

  • (HealthDay News) -- While many people can develop thick, blue and swollen blood vessels called varicose veins, there are risk factors that may them more likely.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • (HealthDay News) -- While many people can develop thick, blue and swollen blood vessels called varicose veins, there are risk factors that may them more likely.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • (HealthDay News) -- While many people can develop thick, blue and swollen blood vessels called varicose veins, there are risk factors that may them more likely.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • (HealthDay News) -- While many people can develop thick, blue and swollen blood vessels called varicose veins, there are risk factors that may them more likely.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • (HealthDay News) -- While many people can develop thick, blue and swollen blood vessels called varicose veins, there are risk factors that may them more likely.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

Comments

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  • There is also a verb 'to varicose', with the inflections 'varicoses', 'varicosing' and 'varicosed'. It refers to the process by which healthy veins become 'varicose' veins.

    June 8, 2012