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Glite Dictionary
emphysema

emphysema

22 7.0
A long-term lung disease in which tiny air sacs are damaged and cause trouble breathing
  • noun
  • /ˌɛmfɪˈsiːmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : enfisema
  • Moreover, smoking causes all sorts of other diseases, emphysema, kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases.
  • subcutaneous emphysema
  • emphysema and bronchitis
  • cervical emphysema

And the guy upstairs sounds like he's dying of emphysema.

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Examples

  • The second question asked if the respondent had been diagnosed with emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

    Academic text (1998)

  • There are still no conclusive studies that link smoking to emphysema.

    Thank You for Smoking (2005)

  • Ended up dying of emphysema from all the dust.

    Sidewalks of New York (2001)

  • Ron Spaden had emphysema for several months.

  • My guess is you're in the early stages of emphysema.

    The Straight Story (1999)

  • With this treatment, the emphysema fluctuated but gradually improved over the next few days.

    Academic text (2005)

  • My grandmother had emphysema.

    The Unholy (2021)

  • Management of facial subcutaneous emphysema usually involves hospital admission and observation for complications.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Respiratory illness was defined as past or present problems with asthma, long-term bronchitis, emphysema, or tuberculosis.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Many smokers eventually develop emphysema, which leads to difficulty breathing.

Synonyms

pulmonary emphysema
vsemphysema
  • Specialized
6.7

Long-term lung disease that damages the small air sacs and makes breathing hard

has the same meaning but is a shorter, more common label

Compounds

gangrenous emphysema
  • Specialized
9.3

A severe infection that makes body tissue die quickly, produces gas, and can be fatal

pulmonary emphysema
  • Specialized
6.7

Long-term lung disease that damages the small air sacs and makes breathing hard

How Severe

emphysema
  • Specialized
22 7.0
broken wind
  • UK
9.9
chronic bronchitis
  • Specialized
1 3.4

Surface Forms

emphysema singular
emphysemas plural

Etymology

Emphysema comes from Greek parts em- 'in' and physa 'to blow'. Think of it as 'blown into' the lungs, which helps you remember that emphysema makes the small air sacs over-inflated and makes breathing hard.