effluvium

American  

[ih-floo-vee-uhm] / ɪˈflu vi əm /

noun

plural

effluvia, effluviums

1. a slight or invisible exhalation or vapor, especially one that is disagreeable or noxious.

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effluvium British  

/ ɛˈfluːvɪəm /

noun

1. an unpleasant smell or exhalation, as of gaseous waste or decaying matter

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Other Word Forms

• effluvial adjective

Etymology

Origin of effluvium

1640–50; < Latin, equivalent to ef- ef- + fluv-, base of fluere to flow ( effluent ) + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

Evidently, telogen effluvium happens when the body undergoes emotional, physical or hormonal shock and pushes more hairs than usual into the resting phase.

From Los Angeles Times

Sudden hair loss of the type you describe is known as telogen effluvium.

From Seattle Times

Many Wallingford houses were built to avoid the hellish view of tower effluvia.

From Seattle Times

Sudden and temporary hair loss has a medical name: telogen effluvium.

From Seattle Times

Today's equivalent might be a sewer worker - but rather than scrabbling through effluvia for scrap metal they go underground for maintenance, such as the grim job of clearing fatbergs.

From BBC