effusion

noun ef·fu·sion \ i-ˈfyü-zhən , e- \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of effusion

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

See effusion defined for English-language learners

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Examples of effusion in a Sentence

Her poetic effusions became tiresome.

Recent Examples of effusion from the Web

The medicine, sterile talc powder, is used to treat malignant pleural effusion, a disease affecting about 150,000 Americans that involves excessive fluid buildup around the lungs and can cause shortness of breath and chest pain.

— peter loftus, WSJ, "Shortages of Simple Drugs Thwart Treatments," 1 July 2017
The scan on the left showed Sharon’s torso in May 2001, a massive tumor impinging her left lung, the pleural effusion flooding her chest.

— danielle jackson, Longreads, "The Best of City And Regional Magazines: A Reading List," 20 June 2017
The current work reinterprets and recreates the youthful artistic visions and effusion.

— matthew larking, CNN, "Tokyo's National Art Center showcases seven decades of art by Yayoi Kusama," 12 May 2017
In Vedic hymns Lockington was the effusive cellist and the children’s chorus director, Anne Tomlinson, conducted, though without effusion.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "A spiritually yearning Beethoven Ninth in Pasadena," 30 Apr. 2017
The work ends with an effusion of shimmering strings.

— georgia rowe, The Mercury News, "Tuba takes center stage at San Francisco Symphony," 24 Mar. 2017
Mr. Levit’s interpretation was permeated by wariness, a sense of repression that occasionally exploded — as in the fugue in E minor, the almost sputtering effusion of a man finally finding his voice.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: Igor Levit, a Pianist for Polarizing Times," 12 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'effusion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of effusion

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 ¹effuse

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First Known Use: 15th century

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EFFUSION Defined for English Language Learners

effusion

noun

Definition of effusion for English Language Learners

: something that is said or expressed too much or with a lot of emotion
: a flow of liquid or gas

Medical Dictionary

effusion

noun ef·fu·sion \ i-ˈfyü-zhən, e- \

medical Definition of effusion

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

Learn More about effusion

See words that rhyme with effusion Spanish Central: Translation of effusion Nglish: Translation of effusion for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of effusion for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about effusion

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effusion

Definition of effusion

Examples of effusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples of effusion from the Web

Origin and Etymology of effusion

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EFFUSION Defined for English Language Learners

effusion

Definition of effusion for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

effusion

medical Definition of effusion

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effusion

Definition of effusion

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Origin and Etymology of effusion

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effusion

Definition of effusion for English Language Learners

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effusion

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