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Glite Dictionary
plumbism

plumbism

9.9
Poisoning that happens when too much lead builds up in the body
  • noun
  • /ˈplʌmbɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plumbismo
  • The doctor explained that the child had developed plumbism due to the old pipes in their home.

Examples

  • About 2 to 3 percent (or 1 million individuals) of the fall and winter population of waterfowl in North America suffer fatal plumbism (chronic lead poisoning) caused by ingesting spent lead pellets.

    Academic text (1990)

  • To prevent plumbism, it is essential to test your home's water for lead contamination.

  • Plumbism can cause serious health problems, including developmental delays and cognitive issues.

Synonyms

lead poisoning
vsplumbism
  • Specialized
9 3.9

A condition that happens when too much lead gets into the body and makes you sick

is the same toxic condition named in a single technical word
saturnism
vsplumbism
  • Specialized
9.9

A sickness you get from having too much lead in your body

has identical meaning but is a different modern medical term

Antonyms

health
∞ 1.0

The condition of a person's body and mind, especially being free from illness or injury

Surface Forms

plumbism singular
plumbisms plural

Morphology

plumbism = plumb (opaque) = plumb + ism

The element 'plumb' meaning 'lead' is a specialized/combining form from Latin and is not familiar to average B1 learners, so they are unlikely to infer 'lead poisoning' from parts alone.

Etymology

The word plumbism comes from the Latin word plumbum meaning 'lead', the same root as plumber and the verb plumb. So plumbism is the name for an illness caused by having too much lead in the body.