asthma
|as-thma|
🇺🇸
/ˈæz.mə/
🇬🇧
/ˈæs.mə/
difficulty breathing / shortness of breath
Etymology
'asthma' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἆσθμα' (ásthma), meaning 'panting' or 'short breath.'
'asthma' passed into Late Latin as 'asthma' and Old English as '(a)sm' / 'æsma', then through Middle English 'asme' before becoming the modern English word 'asthma'.
Initially, it meant 'panting' or 'shortness of breath,' but over time it evolved into the modern medical sense of a chronic respiratory condition causing airway inflammation and recurring breathing difficulty.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chronic respiratory condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrowed, causing wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
She has had asthma since childhood and uses an inhaler when she has an attack.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a single episode of breathlessness or wheezing (often called an "asthma attack").
During the cold snap he had an asthma and needed medical attention.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/28 06:36