asbestoses
|as-bes-to-ses|
🇺🇸
/ˌæsbəˈtoʊsiːz/
🇬🇧
/ˌæsbəˈtəʊsiːz/
(asbestosis)
lung disease (scarring) from asbestos exposure
Etymology
'asbestosis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'asbestos' and the suffix '-osis', where 'asbestos' meant 'inextinguishable' and '-osis' meant 'disease, condition'.
'asbestosis' developed as a medical compound in English in the late 19th to early 20th century from Greek 'asbestos' (which entered English via Latin/French) combined with the Greek-derived medical suffix '-osis'.
Initially, 'asbestos' referred to the inextinguishable mineral; over time the compound 'asbestosis' came to mean the specific lung disease caused by asbestos exposure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'asbestosis' (more than one case of the lung disease asbestosis).
Many former shipyard workers were diagnosed with asbestoses after long-term exposure.
Last updated: 2025/10/25 15:36