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Vocabulary Entry
pica
|noun • verb • adjective
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N
noun
A disorder characterized by an appetite for non-nutritive substances.
Example Sentences
"The child was diagnosed with pica after eating dirt."
"Pica can lead to serious health problems if not addressed."
"Doctors often recommend therapy for patients suffering from pica."
V
verb
To eat or consume items that are not typically considered food.
Example Sentences
"Some animals will pica on objects they find in their environment."
"He began to pica on small pieces of paper he found on the ground."
"When stressed, some people may start to pica as a coping mechanism."
A
adjective
Related to or characterized by the eating of non-food items.
Example Sentences
"The pica behavior was noted during the psychiatric evaluation."
"She has a pica tendency that manifests when she is anxious."
"Research is ongoing to understand the pica population better."