hypertrophy

Etymology

From French hypertrophie, from Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér, “over, excessive”) + τροφή (trophḗ, “nourishment”).

noun

1. (countable, medicine) An increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its individual cells.
2. (uncountable, bodybuilding) Increase in muscle size through increased size of individual muscle cells; a result of weightlifting, and other exercise. It differs from muscle hyperplasia, which is the formation of new muscle cells.

verb

1. (intransitive, of a tissue or organ) To increase in size.
2. (by extension) To enlarge or extend.
   Like a well-exercised muscle, 'network' has hypertrophied into a master concept. 2020, Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life, page 76