malacothamnus fasciculatus
- n shrub of coastal ranges of California and Baja California having hairy branches and spikes of numerous mauve flowers; sometimes placed in genus Sphaeralcea
malabsorption
- n abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract
malabsorption syndrome
- n a pattern of symptoms including loss of appetite and bloating and weight loss and muscle pain and steatorrhea; associated with celiac disease and sprue and cystic fibrosis