kidney stones

Cultural  

1. Small, hard masses that form by chemical precipitation and are found in the kidneys. Kidney stones vary in size, with most of them being small enough to pass through the urinary tract for elimination in the urine. Some, however, may be large enough to obstruct the kidney and cause tremendous pain.

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Example Sentences

It was a pedestrian start to Littler's semi-final with Van Gerwen, with the Dutchman taking time to warm up having received a bye due to Gian van Veen having to pull out with kidney stones.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

For example, a “stone box” for urology patients is packed with vegetables to help prevent kidney stones.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Ailments like anemia, kidney stones and osteoporosis can arise as well, and most returning astronauts can barely walk under the sudden chains of gravity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Now, when he gets painful kidney stones, Gutierrez avoids the overcrowded and chaotic emergency room and heads to Sollis’ serene facility on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

Aggravating the costs was Megan’s ongoing struggle with severe kidney stones.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel