: an abnormal sound heard accompanying the normal respiratory sounds on auscultation of the chest
Examples of rale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For my preceptor, similarly, those wet rales were as recognizable as a familiar jingle.
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Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2017
Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rale.' 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
French râle, from râler to make a rattling sound in the throat
First Known Use
1828, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near rale
Cite this Entry
“Rale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rale. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.
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Medical Definition
: an abnormal sound heard accompanying the normal respiratory sounds on auscultation of the chest compare rattle sense 2, rhonchus
More from Merriam-Webster on rale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rale
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