Which term describes a tumor that is not cancerous?

The term that describes a tumor that is not cancerous is "benign." Benign tumors typically grow slowly and do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body, which differentiates them from malignant tumors that are cancerous and can be aggressive in nature. Benign tumors can still cause health issues due to their size or location, but they do not have the characteristics that define cancer.

The other terms refer to different concepts in medical terminology. "Malignant" specifically pertains to cancerous tumors that are harmful. "Acute" refers to conditions that come on suddenly and are severe, while "chronic" describes conditions that develop over a long period and can persist for a long time. Understanding these distinctions helps in identifying the nature and implications of different types of tumors and medical conditions.