atelectasis

at·el·ec·ta·sis

noun \ˌa-tə-ˈlek-tə-səs\

plural at·el·ec·ta·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of ATELECTASIS

: collapse of the expanded lung; also : defective expansion of the pulmonary alveoli at birth

Origin of ATELECTASIS

New Latin, from Greek atelēs incomplete, defective (from a- ²a- + telos end) + ektasis extension, from ekteinein to stretch out, from ex- + teinein to stretch — more at telos, thin

First Known Use: 1859