xerostomia
|xe-ro-sto-mi-a|
C2
🇺🇸
/ˌzɪəroʊˈstoʊmiə/
🇬🇧
/ˌzɪərə(ʊ)ˈstəʊmiə/
dry mouth
Etymology
Etymology Information
'xerostomia' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'xēros' and 'stoma', where 'xēros' meant 'dry' and 'stoma' meant 'mouth'.
Historical Evolution
'xerostomia' changed from New Latin/medical coinage combining the Greek elements 'xēros' + 'stoma' and was adopted into English medical vocabulary as 'xerostomia'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'dry mouth' in the literal sense, and this meaning has largely remained the same into modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a medical condition characterized by dryness of the mouth due to reduced or absent saliva production.
Xerostomia can cause difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/28 17:36