How do you pronounce "emphysema"?

Pronounced //ˌɛmfɪˈsiːmə//.

Emphysema

Q: What is a synonym for "emphysema"?

Common synonyms include: pulmonary emphysema, acute bronchitis, adenoiditis, air in tissues, aluminosis, amygdalitis.

/ˌɛmfɪˈsiːmə/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Usage: "Emphysema" is primarily used as a noun. Its central meaning — an abnormal accumulation of air or other gas in tissues, most commonly the lungs — makes it most effective in contexts where precision matters over a more general alternative.

Origin: Multiple origins. Partially from post-Classical Latin emphȳsēma (“swelling”), from Ancient Greek ἐμφῡ́σημα (emphū́sēma), from ἐμφῡσάω (emphūsáō, “to puff up”). Also borrowed from Middle French emphysema, from the same Latin source; compare French emphysème. Attested from the late 16th century.

Watch out: Writers sometimes confuse "emphysema" with "adenoiditis" or "aluminosis" — the words overlap in meaning but differ in nuance or register. Use "emphysema" when you specifically mean its core sense rather than defaulting to it as a generic substitute.

Definitions

Noun

1
An abnormal accumulation of air or other gas in tissues, most commonly the lungs. countable, uncountable
2
an abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age wordnet
3
Ellipsis of pulmonary emphysema, a chronic lung disease, one type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
"The panacinar emphysema shows higher compliance with lungs then the centriacinar emphysema 5 ."

Synonyms

All synonyms

pulmonary emphysema acute bronchitis adenoiditis air in tissues aluminosis amygdalitis

Antonyms

All antonyms

absence of emphysema gas-free tissues healthy lungs normal tissues

Example

More examples

"Have you been diagnosed with emphysema?"

Etymology

Multiple origins. Partially from post-Classical Latin emphȳsēma (“swelling”), from Ancient Greek ἐμφῡ́σημα (emphū́sēma), from ἐμφῡσάω (emphūsáō, “to puff up”). Also borrowed from Middle French emphysema, from the same Latin source; compare French emphysème. Attested from the late 16th century.

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