Pica

Pronunciation: /ˈpaɪkə/

Definitions of pica

noun a disorder characterized by the persistent eating of non-nutritive substances such as dirt or paper

Example Sentences

A1 Pica is a condition where people crave and eat non-food items like dirt or chalk.

A2 Some animals exhibit pica behavior by eating grass or rocks.

B1 Pica can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies or underlying health issues.

B2 Individuals with pica may need professional help to address the root cause of their cravings.

C1 Research shows that pica is more common in certain cultural groups and may have genetic components.

C2 Treatment for pica often involves a multidisciplinary approach including therapy and dietary interventions.

Examples of pica in a Sentence

formal Pica is a disorder characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive, such as paper, clay, metal, chalk, soil, glass, or sand.

informal I heard that she has pica and craves eating ice all the time.

slang Some people joke that they have pica because they can't stop themselves from eating junk food.

figurative His obsession with collecting vintage records could be seen as a form of pica for music enthusiasts.

Grammatical Forms of pica

• past tense: picaed
• plural: picas
• comparative: more pica
• superlative: most pica
• present tense: picas
• future tense: will pica
• perfect tense: has picaed
• continuous tense: is picaing
• singular: pica
• positive degree: pica
• infinitive: to pica
• gerund: picaing
• participle: picaed

Origin and Evolution of pica

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'pica' originated from Latin, specifically from the word 'pica' meaning magpie, a bird known for its habit of collecting shiny objects.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'pica' evolved from its original meaning of magpie to refer to a printing measurement system, and later to a medical condition characterized by cravings for non-nutritive substances.