Emphysema
//ˌɛmfɪˈsiːmə// noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
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 ."
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.
Related phrases
More for "emphysema"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.