apnea

[ ap-nee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring in some newborns and adults during sleep. infant apnea ( def ), sleep apnea ( def ).
2. asphyxia; suffocation.

apnea

/ ăp′nē-ə,ăp-nē′ə /

1. The temporary absence or cessation of breathing.

Other Words From

• ap·ne·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apnea¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from New Latin apnoea, from Greek ápnoia, from ápno(os) “breathless” (from a- a- ⁶ + pno-, variant stem of pneîn “to breathe” + -os, adjective suffix) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

For neurological conditions like anxiety or apnea, the chemical needs to be absorbed into the bloodstream to have maximum impact.

From Popular-Science

Pulmonologists estimate that some 80 percent of moderate to severe apnea goes undiagnosed.

From Popular-Science

After an Australian physician invented CPAP in 1980, Rapoport improved the circuitry and showed it worked for sleep apnea nearly 100% of the time.

From MIT Technology Review

SpO2, in particular, will become an increasingly important factor in sleep going forward, as these devices look to track things like sleep apnea.

From TechCrunch

To make that case, researchers are studying people with disorders like sleep apnea, or those who work night shifts or keep irregular working hours, such as first responders, pilots and flight attendants.

From Time

Take, for instance, those with sleep apnea, in which breathing periodically stops and starts throughout the night.

From The Daily Beast

Snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, when your airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes people with sleep apnea wake up during the night gasping for breath.

From The Daily Beast

More troubling were the episodes of central apnea we had been warned about.

From The Daily Beast

And in other research, people with sleep apnea were found to have more difficulties with sexual function.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• hiatus
• intermission
• interval
• layoff
• lull
• pause
• recess
• respite
• rest
• suspension
• time off