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DIAPHRAGMATIC

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di⋅a⋅phrag⋅mat⋅ic

[dahy-uh-frag-mat-ik]
–adjective
1. of the diaphragm.
2. like a diaphragm.

Origin:
1650–60; < Gk diaphragmat- (s. of diáphragma diaphragm ) + -ic


di⋅a⋅phrag⋅mat⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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di·a·phragm   (dī'ə-frām')   
n.  
  1. Anatomy A muscular membranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and functioning in respiration. Also called midriff.

  2. A membranous part that divides or separates.

  3. A thin disk, especially in a microphone or telephone receiver, that vibrates in response to sound waves to produce electric signals, or that vibrates in response to electric signals to produce sound waves.

  4. A contraceptive device consisting of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber, that is designed to cover the uterine cervix to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.

  5. A disk having a fixed or variable opening used to restrict the amount of light traversing a lens or optical system.


[Middle English diafragma, from Late Latin diaphragma, midriff, from Greek, partition, from diaphrassein, to barricade : dia-, intensive pref.; see dia- + phrassein, phrag-, to enclose.]
di'a·phrag·mat'ic (-frāg-māt'ĭk) adj., di'a·phrag·mat'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: di·a·phrag·mat·ic
Pronunciation: "dI-&-fr&(g)-'mat-ik, -"frag-
Function: adjective
: of, involving, orresembling a diaphragm <diaphragmatic hernia>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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