diaphragm
n. countablen. a large, flat muscle between your chest and your stomach. It moves up and down to help you breathe.
n. the primary muscle of respiration that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. It contracts and flattens during inhalation, creating a vacuum that draws air into the lungs.
Singers use their diaphragm to control their breath.
The doctor explained that a hiccup is actually a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm.
Effective breath support in classical vocal performance relies on the conscious engagement of the diaphragm to maintain a steady column of air throughout long melodic phrases.
From Middle English diafragma, Ancient Greek διάφραγμα (diáphragma, “partition”), from διά (diá, “across”) and φράγμα (phrágma, “barrier”), from the verb φράσσω (phrássō). First attested in the late 14th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In its anatomical sense, it is a countable noun referring to the specific muscle structure.
Last updated May 8, 2026