Definition of Graves' disease in English: Graves' disease
noun mass noun A swelling of the neck and protrusion of the eyes resulting from an overactive thyroid gland.
Also called exophthalmic goitre
Example sentences
‘I'm 68 and have rheumatoid arthritis (in remission), osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and Graves' disease.’ ‘The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease.’ ‘Occasionally, patients with autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease also have HAIR-AN syndrome.’ ‘Subclinical hyperthyroidism may be a distinct clinical entity, related only in part to Graves' disease or multinodular goiter.’ ‘Six months later there was a diagnosis: an overactive thyroid caused by Graves' disease.’ Origin Mid 19th century: named after Robert J. Graves (1796–1853), the Irish physician who first identified it.