emphysema

[ em-fuh-see-muh, -zee- ]

/ ˌɛm fəˈsi mə, -ˈzi- /

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See synonyms for: emphysematous on Thesaurus.com

noun Pathology.

a chronic, irreversible disease of the lungs characterized by abnormal enlargement of air spaces in the lungs accompanied by destruction of the tissue lining the walls of the air spaces.

any abnormal distention of an organ, or part of the body, with air or other gas.

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Origin of emphysema

1655–65; <New Latin <Greek emphȳ́sēma inflation, equivalent to em-em-² + phȳsē- (variant stem of phȳsân to blow) + -ma noun suffix denoting result of action

OTHER WORDS FROM emphysema

em·phy·sem·a·tous

[em-fuh-sem-uh-tuhs, -see-muh-, -zem-uh-, -zee-muh-], /ˌɛm fəˈsɛm ə təs, -ˈsi mə-, -ˈzɛm ə-, -ˈzi mə-/, adjectiveem·phy·se·mic, adjective

Words nearby emphysema

emphasis, emphasize, emphasized, emphatic, emphatically, emphysema, em pica, empire, empire builder, empire building, Empire Day

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

How to use emphysema in a sentence

While pot smoke does contain cancer-causing chemicals, recent research has found that cannabis use is not associated with a higher risk of lung cancer or emphysema.
More And More Americans Are Smoking Pot. What Does That Mean For Their Health?|Lester Black|November 30, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
And in her final years, when she was blinded by macular degeneration and suffocating with emphysema, vanity left her isolated.
Understanding Diana Vreeland, ‘Empress of Fashion’|Robin Givhan|November 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Suffering from severe emphysema, she clung to life through a ventilator, as Singer coordinated her care.
The New Science of Reverse Aging|Danielle Friedman|November 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
There may be some emphysema, but not enough to account for the respiratory difficulty.
Psychotherapy|James J. Walsh

Surgical emphysema signifies the effusion of air into the general connective tissues of the body.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3|Various
Whooping-cough is well known as the exciting cause of emphysema in many persons.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3|Various
Of pulmonary emphysema there are two forms, true vesicular and interstitial (or interlobular).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3|Various
Madeira and the Canaries are useful when emphysema is present or where there is much irritability of constitution.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for emphysema

emphysema

/ (ˌɛmfɪˈsiːmə) /

noun pathol

Also called: pulmonary emphysema a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are grossly enlarged, causing breathlessness and wheezing

the abnormal presence of air in a tissue or part

Derived forms of emphysema

emphysematous (ˌɛmfɪˈsɛmətəs, -ˈsiː-), adjective

Word Origin for emphysema

C17: from New Latin, from Greek emphusēma, a swelling up, from emphusan to inflate, from phusan to blow

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

Scientific definitions for emphysema

emphysema

[ ĕm′fĭ-sē′mə ]

A chronic lung disease characterized by progressive, irreversible expansion of the alveoli with eventual destruction of alveolar tissue, causing obstruction to airflow. Patients with emphysema often have labored breathing, wheezing, chronic fatigue, and increased susceptibility to infection, and may require oxygen therapy. Long-term smoking is a common cause of emphysema.

Cultural definitions for emphysema

emphysema

[ (em-fuh-see-muh, em-fuh-zee-muh) ]

A chronic disease in which the tiny air sacs in the lungs become stretched and enlarged, so that they are less able to supply oxygen to the blood. Emphysema causes shortness of breath and painful coughing and can increase the likelihood of developing heart disease. Emphysema occurs most frequently in older men who have been heavy smokers.