Word
embolism
Phoneticsem·bolism
US/ˈɛmboʊˌɫɪzəm/
UK/ˈɛmbəʊlˌɪzəm/
Definitions
01medical blockage
n. a blockage in a blood vessel caused by a clot, air bubble, or other material that has moved through the blood.
n. the sudden obstruction of a blood vessel by an embolus that has been transported via the circulatory system from another part of the body.
“The patient suffered a pulmonary embolism after a long flight without moving.”
“A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, typically originating in the deep veins of the legs, dislodges and travels to the lungs.”
Technical
Usage
Often used with a qualifying adjective to specify the location, such as 'pulmonary' or 'cerebral'.
Teaching tip
This is the primary sense used in modern English; other senses are highly specialized and rare.
Synonyms
02calendar adjustment
n. adding extra days to a calendar to make it match the solar year.
n. the intercalation of days or months into a calendar to align the civil year with the solar or lunar year.
“The ancient calendar required a regular embolism to keep the seasons aligned.”
“The Metonic cycle uses a specific pattern of embolism to reconcile the differences between lunar months and the solar year.”
Technical · Archaic
Usage
Usually uncountable in this sense.
Teaching tip
This sense is largely restricted to historical or astronomical contexts; 'intercalation' is more common in modern academic writing.
Synonyms
03liturgical prayer
n. a short prayer added after the Lord's Prayer in some church services.
n. a short prayer for deliverance from evil that follows the Lord's Prayer in certain Christian liturgies.
“The priest recited the embolism before the congregation offered the sign of peace.”
“In the Roman Rite, the embolism expands upon the final petition of the Pater Noster, focusing on the plea for peace and freedom from sin.”
Technical · Formal
Teaching tip
This is a highly specific term used in liturgical studies and theology.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“As a plant dries, gas bubble blockages, or embolisms, can form in the plant's water-transporting tissues.” Etymology
The term was coined in 1848 by Rudolf Virchow. From Old French embolisme (“intercalation of days in a calendar to correct errors”), from Late Latin embolismus, from Ancient Greek ἐμβολισμός (embolismós, “intercalary”), from ἐμβάλλω (embállō, “to insert, throw in”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/embolism