emphysema
|em-phy-se-ma|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌɛmfəˈsiːmə/
🇬🇧
/ˌemfɪˈsiːmə/
lung over-inflation
Etymology
Etymology Information
'emphysema' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'emphysēma,' where 'em-' meant 'in' and 'physa' meant 'to blow.'
Historical Evolution
'emphysēma' transformed into the Latin word 'emphysema,' and eventually became the modern English word 'emphysema.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a swelling or inflation,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a chronic lung condition.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chronic respiratory disease characterized by over-inflation of the alveoli in the lungs, leading to a decrease in lung function and breathlessness.
Smoking is a major cause of emphysema.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/27 15:54