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

That would cause an air embolism - a blockage caused by an air bubble in the blood circulation.

From BBC

The cause of Isabella's death had been given as "bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma", jurors were told.

From BBC

A serious concern is that the injection can cause a blockage in a blood vessel that can in turn lead to a blood clot travelling to the lungs – what is known as a pulmonary embolism.

From BBC

Exactly two weeks beforehand, however, my mother was rushed to the ER with critical embolisms.

From Los Angeles Times

They were each found to have air bubbles in their blood, known as an embolism.

From BBC

Related Words

• clotting
• clump
• lump