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effluvium

[ ih-floo-vee-uhm ]
/ ɪˈflu vi əm /
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See synonyms for: effluvium / effluvia on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ef·flu·vi·a [ih-floo-vee-uh], /ɪˈflu vi ə/, ef·flu·vi·ums.
a slight or invisible exhalation or vapor, especially one that is disagreeable or noxious.
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Origin of effluvium

1640–50; <Latin, equivalent to ef-ef- + fluv-, base of fluere to flow (see effluent) + -ium-ium

OTHER WORDS FROM effluvium

ef·flu·vi·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use effluvium in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for effluvium

effluvium
/ (ɛˈfluːvɪəm) /

noun plural -via (-vɪə) or -viums
an unpleasant smell or exhalation, as of gaseous waste or decaying matter

Derived forms of effluvium

effluvial, adjective

Word Origin for effluvium

C17: from Latin: a flowing out; see effluent
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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