DictionarynodeKnotlike swelling
noun

node

A small knotlike swelling in tissue or other material.

The doctor feels a small node just beneath her skin.

Etymology

The Latin word means knot. Anatomy and other fields apply that shape-image to compact swellings or thickened points within a larger structure.

More examples

  • Small nodes develop around the joints of her fingers.
  • The scan shows a node in the soft tissue.
  • She notices a pea-sized node beneath the scar.

Forms

node · nodes

nodular adjective — Having or resembling small, knotlike lumps.

Similar words

nodule
Usually a small, rounded lump in tissue or rock.
lump
A broader term for a swelling of any shape.