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thrombus

American  
[throm-buhs] / ˈθrɒm bəs /

noun

Pathology.

plural

thrombi

  1. a fibrinous clot that forms in and obstructs a blood vessel, or that forms in one of the chambers of the heart.

thrombus British  
/ ˈθrɒmbəs /

noun

  1. a clot of coagulated blood that forms within a blood vessel or inside the heart and remains at the site of its formation, often impeding the flow of blood Compare embolus

"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
thrombus Scientific  
/ thrŏm′bəs /

plural

thrombi

  1. A clot consisting of fibrin, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells that forms in a blood vessel or in a chamber of the heart and can obstruct blood flow. The rupture of atherosclerotic plaques can cause arterial thrombosis (the formation of thrombi), while tissue injury, decreased movement, oral contraceptives, prosthetic heart valves, and various metabolic disorders increase the risk for venous thrombosis. A thrombus in a coronary artery can cause a heart attack.

  2. Compare embolus

Etymology

Origin of thrombus

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek thrómbos clot, lump

Compare meaning

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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.

An increase in LDH is thought to indicate hemolysis caused by thrombus formation.

From Forbes • Nov. 27, 2013

In a large vessel, a thrombus will adhere to the vessel wall and decrease the flow of blood, and is referred to as a mural thrombus.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

When a portion of a thrombus breaks free from the vessel wall and enters the circulation, it is referred to as an embolus.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

It may be possible, he suggested, to use anti-inflammatory drugs to control or prevent some kinds of thrombus formation.

From Time Magazine Archive

He knew about as much as was known about the anatomy of the brain and the symptoms and severities of lesion and thrombus.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

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.