Meanings
plural emphysemas · plural emphysemata
- countableuncountablemedicineAn abnormal accumulation of air or other gas in tissues, most commonly the lungs.
Synonyms: pneumatosis
- abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablemedicineEllipsis of pulmonary emphysema, a chronic lung disease, one type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The panacinar emphysema shows higher compliance with lungs then the centriacinar emphysema 5 .
2015 June 5, Geeta Shroff, “Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in the treatment of emphysematous COPD: a case report”, in Clinical Case Reports, volume 3, →DOI1 more example
His family announced the death on social media on Thursday, but provided no details. In 2024, Mr. Lynch announced that he had developed emphysema after years of smoking, and that as a result any subsequent films would have to be directed remotely.
2025 January 16, J. Hoberman, “David Lynch Dead: ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Mulholland Drive’ Director Was 78”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn abnormal accumulation of air or other gas in tissues, most commonly the lungs.
More synonyms by meaning
nounan abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Frenchemphysema
- Ancient Greekἐμφῡ́σημα
- Latinemphȳsēma“swelling”
- Englishemphysema
Multiple origins. Partially from post-Classical Latin emphȳsēma (“swelling”), from Ancient Greek ἐμφῡ́σημα (emphū́sēma), from ἐμφῡσάω (emphūsáō, “to puff up”). Also borrowed from Middle French emphysema, from the same Latin source; compare French emphysème. Attested from the late 16th century.
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek, Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἐμφύσημα
- ἐμφύσημα (emphúsēma)abnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Catalan emfisema
- emfisemaabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Chinese Mandarin 肺氣腫 /肺气肿
- 肺氣腫 /肺气肿 (fèiqìzhǒng)abnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Czech emfyzém
- emfyzémabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Danish emfysem
- emfysemabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Estonian emfüseem
- emfüseemabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Finnish ilmapöhö, keuhkolaajentuma
- ilmapöhöabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
- keuhkolaajentumaabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
French emphysème
- emphysèmeabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
German Lungenaufblähung
- Lungenaufblähungabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Icelandic lungnaþemba
- lungnaþembaabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Italian enfisema
- enfisemaabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Japanese 肺気腫
- 肺気腫 (haikishu)abnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Portuguese enfisema
- enfisemaabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Russian эмфизе́ма
- эмфизе́ма (emfizéma)abnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Spanish enfisema
- enfisemaabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Swedish lungemfysem
- lungemfysemabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Turkish amfizem
- amfizemabnormal accumulation of air in tissues
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with emphysema
Cite this entry
emphysema. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emphysema
“emphysema.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emphysema. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “emphysema,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emphysema.
Source: emphysema on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.