chronic
playSimple Definition of chronic
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medical : continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
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: happening or existing frequently or most of the time
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: always or often doing something specified
Full Definition of chronic
1 a : marked by long duration or frequent recurrence : not acute <chronic indigestion> <chronic experiments> b : suffering from a chronic disease <the special needs of chronic patients>
2 a : always present or encountered; especially : constantly vexing, weakening, or troubling <chronic petty warfare> b : being such habitually <a chronic grumbler>
Related to chronic
Examples of chronic in a sentence
He suffers from chronic arthritis.
a chronic need for attention
Inflation has become a chronic condition in the economy.
Don't bother seeing that film—it's chronic.
Origin of chronic
French chronique, from Greek chronikos of time, from chronos
First Known Use: 1601
Synonym Discussion of chronic
CHRONIC Defined for Kids
chronic
playDefinition of chronic for Students
1 : continuing for a long time or returning often <a chronic disease>
2 : happening or done frequently or by habit <a chronic complainer> <chronic tardiness>
Word Root of chronic
The Greek word chronos, meaning “time,” gives us the root chron. Words from the Greek chronos have something to do with time. The chronological order of events is the order in which they happened in time. Anything that is chronic lasts for a very long time. A chronicle is a telling of events in the order in which they happened in time.
Learn More about chronic
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "chronic" Medical Dictionary: Definition of "chronic" Spanish Central: Translation of "chronic" Nglish: Translation of "chronic" for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of "chronic" for Arabic speakers
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