petechia

noun

pe·​te·​chia pə-ˈtē-kē-ə How to pronounce petechia (audio)
plural petechiae pə-ˈtē-kē-ˌī How to pronounce petechia (audio)
: a minute reddish or purplish spot containing blood that appears in skin or mucous membrane as a result of localized hemorrhage
petechial adjective

Examples of petechia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The muscles of the soft palate help with breathing, swallowing, and talking.2 Palatal petechiae likely won't come as a total surprise. Reven Widener, Health, 31 May 2023 However, petechiae are usually round and raised, whereas cherry angiomas are dome-shaped and usually flat.4 Sometimes, a healthcare provider may use optical coherence tomography (OCT). Sarah Fielding, Health, 9 Mar. 2023 Bruising is a common sign of ITP, as are symptoms like petechiae (small dots of blood that look like a skin rash), sudden bloody noses, gums that bleed out of nowhere, and more, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Patia Braithwaite, SELF, 21 June 2019 Although petechiae can be a sign of leukemia, it can also be caused by things like a bad cough or sunburn, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2018 Those dots, little bits of blood trapped beneath the skin, known as petechiae, suggested that there was something wrong with her platelets, the components of blood that initiate clotting. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 16 Mar. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petechia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Italian petecchia, ultimately from Latin impetigo

First Known Use

circa 1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petechia was circa 1784

Dictionary Entries Near petechia

Cite this Entry

“Petechia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petechia. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

petechia

noun
pe·​te·​chia pə-ˈtē-kē-ə How to pronounce petechia (audio)
plural petechiae -kē-ˌī How to pronounce petechia (audio)
: a minute reddish or purplish spot containing blood that appears in skin or mucous membrane as a result of localized hemorrhage

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