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cardiovascular

American  
[kahr-dee-oh-vas-kyuh-ler] / ˌkɑr di oʊˈvæs kjə lər /

adjective

Anatomy.
  1. of, relating to, or affecting the heart and blood vessels.


cardiovascular British  
/ ˌkɑːdɪəʊˈvæskjʊlə /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the heart and the blood vessels

"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

cardiovascular Scientific  
/ kär′dē-ō-văskyə-lər /
  1. Relating to or involving the heart and blood vessels.


cardiovascular Cultural  
  1. A descriptive term for the heart and the blood vessels.


Etymology

Origin of cardiovascular

First recorded in 1875–80; cardio- + vascular

Explanation

Use the adjective cardiovascular when you're talking about the circulatory system in general or the heart specifically. Cardiovascular exercise gets your blood pumping and is good for your heart. Cardio- means "heart," from the Greek kardia, and vascular refers to blood circulation, from a Latin root meaning "vessels or tubes." So anything cardiovascular is related to the heart muscle and the blood it pumps through arteries, veins, and capillaries. Cardiovascular diseases affect the structure of the heart itself or the vessels that help it move blood through the body. Things like not smoking and regularly moving your body can help you keep your cardiovascular system healthy.

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Vocabulary lists containing cardiovascular

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Two people of the same chronological age can differ considerably in cardiovascular health, metabolism, inflammation, and other measures of how well the body is functioning.

From Science Daily Sep. 16, 2026

They found that the group who took Shingrix had a lower risk of cardiovascular events over the next seven years compared with those who received Zostavax.

From MarketWatch Sep. 15, 2026

The initiative, “Obstetric Emergencies in Nonobstetric Settings,” offers resources for emergency departments on caring for pregnant patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension and eclampsia.

From Salon Sep. 13, 2026

In another 2013 study, Swedish researchers found that singing has a biologically soothing effect, especially on cardiovascular function.

From Salon Sep. 13, 2026

It was efficient, one had to admit, but lacked the sense of adventure and cardiovascular exercise that dashing to get a good spot on line had always provided.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

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