adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A growing mutation, usually abnormal.
2. 2
   A sound in a word without etymological reason. historical

   ""B" in "nimble" is an excrescent."

Adjective

1. 1
   Growing out in an abnormal or morbid manner or as a superfluity.

   "Expunge the whole, or lop th' excrescent parts."

Adjective

1. 1
   forming an outgrowth (usually an excessive outgrowth) wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

boldeminentjuttingoutstandingprojectingprominent

Example

More examples

""B" in "nimble" is an excrescent."

Etymology

From Latin excrēscēns, present participle of excrēscō.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.