chronic
constant; habitual; inveterate: a chronic liar.
continuing a long time or recurring frequently: a chronic state of civil war.
having long had a disease, habit, weakness, or the like: a chronic invalid.
(of a disease) having long duration (opposed to acute).
Slang. cronic.
Origin of chronic
1- Rarely chron·i·cal [kron-i-kuhl] /ˈkrɒn ɪ kəl/ .
Other words for chronic
Other words from chronic
- chron·i·cal·ly, adverb
- chro·nic·i·ty [kro-nis-i-tee], /krɒˈnɪs ɪ ti/, noun
- non·chron·ic, adjective
- non·chron·i·cal, adjective
- sub·chron·ic, adjective
- sub·chron·i·cal, adjective
- un·chron·ic, adjective
Words that may be confused with chronic
- acute, chronic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use chronic in a sentence
Even as it was a few left, but about twenty of the chronics stayed, and it looked as if we might be able to keep going.
Where There's A Will | Mary Roberts RinehartOne doesnt look for a chronics doing anything so unscheduled and foreign to routine; but Paw spoiled all precedent.
Short Stories of the New America | VariousThis contract note not only helps to get the money, but it solves the problem of holding chronics and venerals.
How to Collect a Doctor Bill | Frank P. Davis
British Dictionary definitions for chronic
/ (ˈkrɒnɪk) /
continuing for a long time; constantly recurring
(of a disease) developing slowly, or of long duration: Compare acute (def. 7)
inveterate; habitual: a chronic smoker
informal
very bad: the play was chronic
very serious: he left her in a chronic condition
Origin of chronic
1Derived forms of chronic
- chronically, adverb
- chronicity (krɒˈnɪsɪtɪ), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for chronic
[ krŏn′ĭk ]
Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases. Compare acute.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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