Meanings
nounatelectasis (countable and uncountable, plural atelectases)
plural atelectases
- countableuncountablemedicineThe collapse of a part of or the whole lung caused by inner factors rather than a pneumothorax.
Atelectasis means a non-expansion of the lungs.
2009, Jennifer Worth, Farewell to the East End, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, page 46
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀτελής“incomplete”
- Englishatelectasis
From Ancient Greek ἀτελής (atelḗs, “incomplete”) + ἔκτασις (éktasis, “extension”), from ἐκτείνω (ekteínō, “to extend”). By surface analysis, atel- + ectasis.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan atelèctasi
- atelèctasilung collapse caused by inner factors
Hebrew תֶּמֶט הָרֵאָה, תֶּמֶט
- תֶּמֶט הָרֵאָהlung collapse caused by inner factors
- תֶּמֶטlung collapse caused by inner factors
Indonesian atelektasis
- atelektasislung collapse caused by inner factors
Italian atelectasia
- atelectasialung collapse caused by inner factors
Polish niedodma
- niedodmalung collapse caused by inner factors
Portuguese atelectasia
- atelectasialung collapse caused by inner factors
Spanish atelectasia
- atelectasialung collapse caused by inner factors
Cite this entry
APA
atelectasis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atelectasis
MLA
“atelectasis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atelectasis. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “atelectasis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atelectasis.
Source: atelectasis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.