aneurysm

Or an·eu·rism

[an-yuh-riz-uhm]

noun

Pathology.

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

aneurysm

/ ˈænjəˌrɪzəm /

noun

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

aneurysm

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.

Other Word Forms

• aneurysmal adjective
• aneurismal adjective
• aneurysmally adverb
• aneurismally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of aneurysm¹

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”; eury- ) + -ma, noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of aneurysm¹

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

Example Sentences

While they can issue false positives, she says, they occasionally reveal lifesaving findings like an aneurysm in one of her patients, which needed treating.

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“I don’t get headaches. I thought I was having an aneurysm.”

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An ambulance rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared brain-dead because of an aneurysm.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Half an hour later, Mackie had died — vets and a family physician told Simms that she “likely” suffered from a brain aneurysm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It should also be avoided in pregnancy as well as by people with brain injuries or cerebral aneurysm or a history of panic attacks.

Read more on Salon