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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

Words nearby effluvium

effloresce, efflorescence, efflorescent, effluence, effluent, effluvium, efflux, effort, effort bargain, effortful, effortless
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to effluvium

exhalation, exhaust, odor, smell, vapor

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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