ar·te·ri·o·scle·ro·sis (är-tîr??-?-skl?-r??s?s)n. Any of several chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis, that are characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries and that lead to impaired blood circulation.ar·te?ri·o·scle·rot?ic (-r?t??k) adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.arteriosclerosis (???t??r???skl???r??s?s) n, pl -ses (-si?z) (Pathology) a pathological condition of the circulatory system characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls. Nontechnical name: hardening of the arteries arteriosclerotic adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014ar?te?ri?o?scle?ro?sis (?r?t??r i o? skl??ro? s?s) n. abnormal thickening and loss of elasticity in the arterial walls. [1885?90] ar?te`ri?o?scle?rot?ic (-?r?t ?k) adj. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.ar·te·ri·o·scle·ro·sis (är-tîr??-?-skl?-r??s?s) A thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries that interferes with the circulation of the blood. It can be caused by disease and is also associated with high blood pressure and diets that are rich in cholesterol and saturated fats. See also atherosclerosis.The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.