silicosis

[ sil-i-koh-sis ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a disease of the lungs caused by the inhaling of siliceous particles, as by stonecutters.

silicosis

/ ˌsɪlɪˈkəʊsɪs /

noun

1. pathol a form of pneumoconiosis caused by breathing in tiny particles of silica, quartz, or slate, and characterized by shortness of breath and fibrotic changes in the tissues of the lungs

Other Words From

• sil·i·cot·ic [sil-i-, kot, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of silicosis¹

First recorded in 1890–95; silic(a) + -osis

Example Sentences

Jagged ash particles irritate the lungs and over the long term can lead to a disease known as silicosis.

From Vox