Main Entry: ¹chron·ic

Pronunciation: \ˈkrän-ik\

Variant(s): also chron·i·cal \-i-kəl\

Function: adjective

1 a : marked by long duration, by frequent recurrence over a long time, and often by slowly progressing seriousness : not acute <chronic indigestion> <her hallucinations became chronic> b : suffering from a disease or ailment of long duration or frequent recurrence <a chronic arthritic> <chronic sufferers from asthma>
2 a : having a slow progressive course of indefinite duration—used especially of degenerative invasive diseases, some infections, psychoses, and inflammations <chronic heart disease> <chronic arthritis> <chronic tuberculosis>; compare acute 2b(1) b : infected with a disease-causing agent (as a virus) and remaining infectious over a long period of time but not necessarily expressing symptoms <chronic carriers may remain healthy but still transmit the virus causing hepatitis B>

—chron·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—chro·nic·i·ty \krä-ˈnis-ət-ē, krō-\ noun, plural chro·nic·i·ties