apnea

[ ap-nee-uh ]
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nounPathology.
  1. a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring in some newborns (infant apnea ) and in some adults during sleep (sleep apnea ).

Origin of apnea

1
First recorded in 1710–20; from New Latin apnoea, from Greek ápnoia, equivalent to ápno(os) “breathless” (a- a-6 + pno-, variant stem of pneîn “to breathe” + -os adjective suffix) + -ia -ia
  • Also especially British, ap·noe·a [ap-nee-uh] /æpˈni ə/ .

Other words from apnea

  • ap·ne·ic, adjective

Words Nearby apnea

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use apnea in a sentence

Scientific definitions for apnea

apnea

[ ăpnē-ə, ăp-nēə ]


  1. The temporary absence or cessation of breathing.

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