effusion

noun

ef·​fu·​sion i-ˈfyü-zhən 

e-

1

: an act of effusing

2

: unrestrained expression of words or feelings

greeted her with great effusion

—Olive H. Prouty

3

a(1)

: the escape of a fluid from anatomical vessels by rupture or exudation

(2)

: the flow of a gas through an aperture whose diameter is small as compared with the distance between the molecules of the gas

b

: the fluid that escapes

Examples of effusion in a Sentence

Her poetic effusions became tiresome.

Recent Examples on the Web

Will the weird, jagged, irregular effusions of language gradually be purged? —Christopher Soto, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2023

Grattan was charmed by the soccer star’s effusion of emojis. —Tessa Watson, ELLE Decor, 1 Aug. 2023

All 14 active Mavericks and two-way signees — excluding Davis Bertans (right knee effusion), Frank Ntilikina (right ankle effusion) and Facundo Campazzo (work visa issue) — took the court. —Dallas News, 22 Oct. 2022

Davis Bertans, who has missed most of the preseason with a right knee effusion, and Frank Ntilikina, who did not travel with the team because of a right ankle effusion, are out. —Dallas News, 18 Oct. 2022

The same goes for Frank Ntilikina (right foot effusion) and Davis Bertans (right knee effusion) who haven’t played this season. —Dallas News, 25 Oct. 2022

Low voltage on the extremity leads on an ECG can sometimes occur when there is a large amount of fluid in the sac surrounding the heart, called a pericardial effusion. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023

The doctor told me that my baby had a pleural effusion, or a fluid in the lining of the lungs. —Katie Herchenroeder, The New Republic, 13 Apr. 2023

The Magnifying Essences can be combined with them in a multitude of ways—spritz the Magnifying Patchouli on with Rock’ n’ Rome to bring out its sultry facets, for example, or push Riva Solare into an even greater effusion of floralcy with a spray of Magnifying Rose. —April Long, Town & Country, 16 Feb. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English effusioun "emission, shedding," borrowed from Anglo-French effusiun, borrowed from Latin effūsiōn-, effūsiō, from effud-, variant stem of effundere "to pour out, discharge, expend" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at effuse entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

effusion

noun

ef·​fu·​sion i-ˈfyü-zhən 

e-

1

: free expression of words or feelings

2

a

: escape of a fluid from containing vessels

b

: the fluid that escapes

Medical Definition

effusion

noun

ef·​fu·​sion i-ˈfyü-zhən, e- 

1

a

: the escape of a fluid from anatomical vessels by rupture or exudation

b

: the flow of a gas through an aperture whose diameter is small as compared with the distance between the molecules of the gas

2

: the fluid that escapes by extravasation see pleural effusion