National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health | www.cancer.gov

NCI Home
Cancer Topics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Statistics
Research & Funding
News
About NCI
Dictionary of Cancer Terms
In English   En español
Page Options
Print This Page
More NCI Dictionaries
NCI Drug Dictionary

Glossary of Statistical Terms

NCI Dictionary of Genetics Terms

Terminology Resources
Quit Smoking Today
Search for
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
In English   En español

compulsion (kum-PUL-zhun)

 An uncontrollable urge to say or do something without an obvious reason. A person may repeat a behavior, such as hand-washing, over and over.



Previous Definitions:compound, compound nevus, compression, compression bandage, compression pump
Next Definitions:computed tomographic colonography, computed tomography colography, computed tomography scan, computerized axial tomography scan, computerized tomography

A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov