atopy

From Ancient Greek ἀτοπία (atopía), from ἄτοπος (átopos), from ἀ- (a-) + τόπος (tópos, “place”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈætəpi/

atopy (plural atopies)

1. (medicine) A hereditary disorder marked by the tendency to develop localized immediate hypersensitivity reactions to allergens such as pollen, food etc and is manifested by hay fever, asthma, or similar allergic conditions; generally considered to be caused by the interaction of environmental and genetic factors.
   • 1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial 2004, p. 67:

     Whatever factor is invoked to explain the increase in asthma must also be capable of explaining other outbreaks of atopy.

2. A person suffering from atopic syndrome; a case of atopy.

• atopic allergy

• atopic

• allergy

• payot