embolism

[ em-buh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. Pathology. the occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus.
2. intercalation, as of a day in a year.
3. a period of time intercalated.
4. (in a Eucharistic service) the prayer following the final petitions of the Lord's Prayer.

embolism

/ ˈɛmbəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus
2. botany the blocking of a xylem vessel by an air bubble
3. the insertion of one or more days into a calendar, esp the Jewish calendar; intercalation
4. RC Church a prayer inserted in the canon of the Mass between the Lord's Prayer and the breaking of the bread
5. another name (not in technical use) for embolus

embolism

/ ĕm′bə-lĭz′əm /

1. A mass, such as an air bubble, detached blood clot, or foreign body, that travels in the bloodstream, lodges in a blood vessel, and obstructs or occludes it.
2. Also called embolus
3. The obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by such a mass.

embolism

1. An obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by an air bubble, a detached blood clot, or a foreign body.

Derived Forms

• ˌemboˈlismic, adjective

Other Words From

• embo·lismic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embolism¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin embolismus intercalation < Late Greek embolismós, equivalent to embol- ( embolus ) + -ismos -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of embolism¹

C14: from Medieval Latin embolismus, from Late Greek embolismos intercalary; see embolus

Example Sentences

I had a pulmonary embolism which turned into a pulmonary infarction.

From Freakonomics

Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism, meaning there was a sudden blockage of an artery in her lungs.

From Time

McPherson died of a pulmonary embolism, though a coroner originally cited prolonged dehydration and bedrest as the cause.

From The Daily Beast

One witness who failed to appear suffered a pulmonary embolism and died before he could.

From The Daily Beast

Hemorrhage, infection, and pulmonary embolism are all more common following a surgical birth.

From The Daily Beast

A pulmonary embolism shouldn't kill him, but the effects were disproportionate to the cause and would last a while.

From Project Gutenberg

Death in the fatal cases was attributed to pulmonary embolism, peritonitis, and in two to heart failure.

From Project Gutenberg

Death in such circumstances is usually attributed to embolism of the pulmonary artery.

From Project Gutenberg

Spencer, in eighty-five total hysterectomies, had two deaths from pulmonary embolism.

From Project Gutenberg

In cases of septic thrombosis the patients run a definite risk from pulmonary embolism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clotting
• clump
• lump