cataplexy
Pathology. a condition characterized by sudden, brief attacks of muscle weakness sometimes causing the body to fall helplessly, that is usually triggered by strong emotion: often associated with narcolepsy.
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Origin of cataplexy
1Other words from cataplexy
- cat·a·plec·tic [kat-uh-plek-tik], /ˌkæt əˈplɛk tɪk/, adjective
Words Nearby cataplexy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use cataplexy in a sentence
Drugs that change dopamine levels in people don’t seem to have big effects on REM sleep and cataplexy, Scammell says.
British Dictionary definitions for cataplexy
/ (ˈkætəˌplɛksɪ) /
sudden temporary paralysis, brought on by severe shock
a state of complete absence of movement assumed by animals while shamming death
Origin of cataplexy
1Derived forms of cataplexy
- cataplectic, adjective
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
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