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Glite Dictionary
white lung

white lung

9.9
Severe lung damage from breathing harmful gases like chlorine or ammonia that makes lungs stiff and stops them working well
  • noun
  • /waɪt lʌŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pulmón blanco
  • Persistent coughing and shortness of breath are common symptoms of white lung in patients exposed to chlorine gas.

Examples

  • Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals developed white lung after a major spill at the plant.

  • Doctors cautioned that early detection of white lung can improve the chances of recovery.

  • The patient was diagnosed with white lung after the chemical exposure.

  • Doctors explained that white lung can lead to serious complications.

  • Persistent coughing and shortness of breath are common symptoms of white lung in patients exposed to chlorine gas.

  • Doctors cautioned that early detection of white lung can improve the chances of recovery.

  • Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals developed white lung after a major spill at the plant.

Synonyms

adult respiratory distress syndrome
vswhite lung
  • Archaic
1 7.4

A serious illness in which the lungs are damaged and fill with fluid so oxygen cannot reach the blood

is specific to inhaled irritant vapors like ammonia or chlorine
ARDS
vswhite lung
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A severe lung condition that makes it hard to get enough oxygen to the body

usually follows inhalation of irritant vapors rather than infection or injury
wet lung
vswhite lung
  • Specialized
8.8

A serious lung illness in which fluid and swelling make breathing hard, often after breathing in chemical fumes

involves stiff fibrous injury rather than fluid filled damage

Surface Forms

white lung singular
white lungs plural

Morphology

white + lung

The compound literally combines 'white' and 'lung', so a learner could infer it refers to an abnormal or discolored lung; there is a visible compositional link. However, the precise clinical sense (a severe, fibrotic inhalation injury with impaired gas exchange caused by specific irritants) is technical and not predictable from the words alone, so learners would not arrive at the full meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

White lung comes from old chest X-rays: a healthy lung looks dark because it is full of air, but a damaged lung filled with fluid or scar tissue shows up as white. So, the name came to mean 'severe lung injury' where the lungs are stiff and cannot get enough oxygen.