emphysema

em·phy·se·ma | \ ˌem(p)-fə-ˈzē-mə

, -ˈsē-

Definition of emphysema

: a condition characterized by air-filled expansions of body tissues specifically : a condition of the lung marked by abnormal enlargement of the alveoli with loss of pulmonary elasticity that is characterized especially by shortness of breath and may lead to impairment of heart action

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Examples of emphysema in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Those could include: diabetes, emphysema, heart disease or failure, liver disease, or chemotherapy treatments. — oregonlive, "How to use Oregon’s new coronavirus symptom checker," 9 Apr. 2020 On March 14, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the state’s first death in an elderly woman with advanced emphysema. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Don’t Panic: The comprehensive Ars Technica guide to the coronavirus [Updated 4/5]," 5 Apr. 2020 Ann Schonberg was a Detroit homemaker and a lifelong smoker with mild emphysema. — Paula Span, New York Times, "Aging Out of the Mammogram," 16 Mar. 2020 Cuomo said the victim was an 82-year-old woman with emphysema. — Fox News, "New York confirms first coronavirus death as cases in state surpass 500," 15 Mar. 2020 Campbell has a history of emphysema and asthma, putting her at greater risk for exposure to the virus. — Cassandra Jaramillo, Dallas News, "New lawsuit seeks release of medically vulnerable Dallas County Jail inmates amid COVID-19 threat," 21 May 2020 The messages said smoking was ‘‘the main cause of lung cancer and emphysema and a huge contributor to heart disease,’’ Mr. Geller recalled in a memoir. — Bart Barnes, BostonGlobe.com, "Henry Geller, who helped ban cigarette advertising from radio and TV, dies at 96," 21 Apr. 2020 By comparison, there are five flu deaths per day during flu season, eight per day from COPD and emphysema, and 31 from coronary heart disease. — Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, "COVID-19 Becomes Leading Cause of Death in L.A. County, Surpassing Influenza," 23 Apr. 2020 With mom’s underlying health conditions – COPD and emphysema – we were concerned about the positive diagnosis. — Julia Fair, Cincinnati.com, "NKY nursing home resident recovers from COVID-19 after hospitalization," 17 Apr. 2020

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

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Dictionary Entries near emphysema

emphysematous anthrax

emphyteusis

emphyteuta

Statistics for emphysema

Last Updated

8 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Emphysema.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emphysema. Accessed 3 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for emphysema

emphysema

noun

English Language Learners Definition of emphysema

medical : a disease in which the lungs become stretched and breathing becomes difficult

See the full definition for emphysema in the English Language Learners Dictionary

emphysema

noun

em·phy·se·ma | \ ˌem-fə-ˈzē-mə

, -ˈsē-mə \

Kids Definition of emphysema

: a disease in which the lungs become stretched and inefficient

emphysema

noun

em·phy·se·ma | \ ˌem(p)-fə-ˈzē-mə

, -ˈsē-

Medical Definition of emphysema

: a condition characterized by air-filled expansions in interstitial or subcutaneous tissues specifically : a condition of the lung that is marked by distension and eventual rupture of the alveoli with progressive loss of pulmonary elasticity, that is accompanied by shortness of breath with or without cough, and that may lead to impairment of heart action