effluvium

ef·flu·vi·um

noun \e-ˈflü-vē-əm\

plural ef·flu·via also ef·flu·vi·ums

Definition of EFFLUVIUM

1

: an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell

2

: a by-product especially in the form of waste

Variants of EFFLUVIUM

ef·flu·vi·um also ef·flu·via \-vē-ə\

Examples of EFFLUVIUM

1. <the effluvia from local sewage treatment plants polluting the river>

Origin of EFFLUVIUM

Latin effluvium act of flowing out, from effluere

First Known Use: 1651

Related to EFFLUVIUM

Synonyms

chaff, deadwood, debris, dreck (also drek), dross, dust, garbage (also effluvia), junk, litter, offal, offscouring, raffle, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, spilth, trash, truck, waste

Related Words

crud, sewage, slop, swill, wash; detritus, remains, rubble, ruins; dump, scrap heap; lumber, odds and ends, trumpery; flotsam, jetsam, wreckage; castoff, cull, discard, hand-me-down, reject, throwaway; nothing, straw, two bits

Near Antonyms

catch, gem, goody (or goodie), jewel, pearl, plum, prize, treasure, treasure trove, trove, valuable; booty, find, salvage

Rhymes with EFFLUVIUM

alluvium, colluvium

ef·flu·vi·um

noun \e-ˈflü-vē-əm\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; -via \-vē-ə\ (audio pronunciation)or ; ef·flu·vi·ums

Medical Definition of EFFLUVIUM

: an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell—the form effluvia often used with a singular verb