stertorous
Americanadjective
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marked or accompanied by heavy snoring
-
breathing in this way
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stertorous
Explanation
When someone's breathing is described as stertorous, it means their breathing is loud and labored, similar to the sound of heavy snoring. The word stertorous comes from the Latin stertor, meaning "snoring." Since the early 19th century, stertorous has been used to describe a specific type of heavy, labored breathing. For example, the deep, strained breathing that often follows an intense workout can be described as stertorous. This term is also commonly used in medical contexts to indicate when someone is having trouble breathing smoothly, which may signal potential respiratory issues.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those with some chess skills may prefer the Stertorous opening, said to have been used by Shakespeare: .
From Time Magazine Archive
Stertorous breathing gave testimony that the gunman was in trouble.
From The Sheriff's Son by Raine, William MacLeod
Stertorous breathing greeted her, and she perceived that Gerald Foster had also passed the night in a chair.
From The Adventures of Sally by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
