oedema

American  

[ih-dee-muh] / ɪˈdi mə /

noun

Pathology.

plural

oedemata

1. Chiefly British. a variant of edema.

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oedema British  

/ ɪˈdiːmə, ɪˈdɛmətəs /

noun

1. pathol an excessive accumulation of serous fluid in the intercellular spaces of tissue

2. plant pathol an abnormal swelling in a plant caused by a large mass of parenchyma or an accumulation of water in the tissues

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Other Word Forms

• oedematous adjective

Etymology

Origin of oedema

C16: via New Latin from Greek oidēma, from oidein to swell

Example Sentences

The heart failure caused him to suffer acute pulmonary oedema, when fluid builds up in the lungs, the preliminary autopsy confirmed.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

McPaul had been a resident at the care home since 2009 and suffered from osteoarthritis and chronic oedema, while having a history of choking on his food.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

This is the result of what medics call grade three oedema and dermatosis.

From BBC • Sep. 20, 2022

On 8 January 1948, a day after learning he had been granted British citizenship, he died of acute pulmonary oedema.

From The Guardian • Jan. 19, 2013

This is, it may be noticed, entirely different from the pitting upon pressure, without much if any change of color, in local oedema or general anasarcous effusion.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various