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asphyxia

 - 5 dictionary results

as⋅phyx⋅i⋅a

  [as-fik-see-uh]
Use asphyxia in a Sentence
–noun Pathology.
the extreme condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, produced by interference with respiration or insufficient oxygen in the air; suffocation.
Origin:
1700–10; < NL < Gk asphyxía a stopping of the pulse, equiv. to a- a- 6 + sphýx(is) pulse + -ia -ia

Related forms:
as⋅phyx⋅i⋅al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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as·phyx·i·a   (ās-fĭk'sē-ə)   
n.  A condition in which an extreme decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the body accompanied by an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide leads to loss of consciousness or death. Asphyxia can be induced by choking, drowning, electric shock, injury, or the inhalation of toxic gases.

[New Latin, from Greek asphuxiā, stopping of the pulse : a-, not; see a-1 + sphuxis, heartbeat (from sphuzein, sphug-, to throb).]
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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Word Origin & History

asphyxia 
1706, "stoppage of pulse," from Mod.L., from Gk. asphyxia "stopping of the pulse," from a- "not" + sphyzein "to throb." The current sense of "suffocation" is from 1778, but it is a "curious infelicity of etymology" [OED] since victims of suffocation have a pulse for some time after breathing has stopped. Asphyxiate is first recorded 1836, originally transitive.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: as·phyx·ia
Pronunciation: as-'fik-sE-&, &s-
Function: noun
: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body thatis usually caused by interruption of breathing and that causes unconsciousness —compare SUFFOCATION —as·phyx·i·al /-sE-&l/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

asphyxia as·phyx·i·a (ās-fĭk'sē-ə)
n.
A condition in which an extreme decrease in the amount of oxygen in the body accompanied by an increase of carbon dioxide leads to loss of consciousness or death.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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