Word
emphysema
Phoneticsem·phy·se·ma
US/ˌɛmfəˈzimə/
UK/ɛmfˈaɪsmɐ/
Definition
n. a long-term disease where the tiny air sacs in the lungs are damaged, making you feel short of breath.
n. a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involving the permanent enlargement and destruction of the air sacs in the lungs.
Examples
“He was diagnosed with emphysema after years of smoking.”
“The patient's chronic cough and shortness of breath were eventually attributed to emphysema rather than a simple infection.”
“While emphysema is most commonly linked to tobacco use, long-term exposure to industrial pollutants or secondhand smoke can also lead to the progressive destruction of lung tissue.”
Examples
simple
“He was diagnosed with emphysema after years of smoking.”
contextual
“The patient's chronic cough and shortness of breath were eventually attributed to emphysema rather than a simple infection.”
complex
“While emphysema is most commonly linked to tobacco use, long-term exposure to industrial pollutants or secondhand smoke can also lead to the progressive destruction of lung tissue.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
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englishreference.com/q/emphysema