ENGLISH
REFERENCE

eczema

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɛksəmə// UK //ˈɛkzəmɐ// eczema

n. a medical condition that makes your skin dry, red, and very itchy. It is not something you can catch from other people.

n. a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by pruritus, erythema, and scaly patches. Often associated with an overactive immune response or genetic predisposition.


SIMPLE

She uses a special cream to treat her eczema.

CONTEXTUAL

Stress and certain soaps can cause a sudden flare-up of his eczema.

COMPLEX

While the exact cause remains unknown, researchers believe that eczema involves a combination of environmental triggers and a weakened skin barrier that allows moisture to escape.

Origin

Learned borrowing from Latin eczema, from Ancient Greek ἔκζεμᾰ (ékzemă, “cutaneous eruption”), from ἐκζέω (ekzéō, “to boil out, break out”) + -μᾰ (-mă, nominal suffix).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the medical condition; occasionally used as a countable noun when referring to specific types or instances of the rash.

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