embolism
|em-bol-ism|
/ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/
a plug that blocks a vessel
Etymology
'embolism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'embolismos' (ἔμβολισμός), where the root 'embol-' (from ἐμβολή / ἐμβάλλειν) meant 'insertion' or 'a plug/stopper'.
'embolism' changed from Greek 'embolismos' into Late/Medical Latin as 'embolismus' and was borrowed into modern English as 'embolism'.
Initially it meant 'an insertion or plugging', but over time it evolved into the specific medical meaning 'the lodging of a plug-like particle in a blood vessel causing obstruction'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus (a detached mass such as a blood clot, air bubble, fat globule, or other material) that has traveled through the bloodstream.
A pulmonary embolism can cause sudden shortness of breath and chest pain.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/30 01:17