aneurysm

or an·eu·rism

[ an-yuh-riz-uhm ]

nounPathology.
  1. a permanent cardiac or arterial dilatation usually caused by weakening of the vessel wall.

Origin of aneurysm

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from Greek aneúrysma “dilation,” equivalent to aneurys- (variant stem of aneurýnein “to dilate,” from an- an-3 + eurýnein “to widen, broaden”; cf. eury-) + -ma, noun suffix

Other words from aneurysm

  • an·eu·rys·mal, an·eu·ris·mal, adjective
  • an·eu·rys·mal·ly, an·eu·ris·mal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use aneurysm in a sentence

  • It is possible to rupture a vessel, the walls of which are encrusted with lime salts, and full of small aneurysmal dilatations.

    Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: | Louis Marshall Warfield

British Dictionary definitions for aneurysm

aneurysm

aneurism

/ (ˈænjəˌrɪzəm) /


noun
  1. a sac formed by abnormal dilation of the weakened wall of a blood vessel

Origin of aneurysm

1
C15: from Greek aneurusma, from aneurunein to dilate, from eurunein to widen

Derived forms of aneurysm

  • aneurysmal, aneurismal, aneurysmatic or aneurismatic, adjective
  • aneurysmally, aneurismally, aneurysmatically or aneurismatically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for aneurysm

aneurysm

[ ănyə-rĭz′əm ]


  1. A localized, blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel or cardiac chamber caused by disease, such as arteriosclerosis, or weakening of the vessel or chamber wall. A ruptured aneurysm results in hemorrhage and is often fatal.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.