asthma

noun

asth·​ma ˈaz-mə 

 British  ˈas-

: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (such as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)

asthmatic

az-ˈma-tik 

 British  as-

adjective or noun

asthmatically

az-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

 British  as-

adverb

Examples of asthma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Particles from smoke can be breathed into the lungs and cause heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

Earlier research has also focused on children with asthma who live with smokers in the home and found that air purifiers that were running about 60% of the time help cut fine particle indoor air pollution by 25% to 50% and reduce asthma symptoms. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Officials said one rider was transported for asthma treatment; no transit workers were injured. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024

These toxic substances can also make asthma worse and harder to treat. —Padma Swamy, Baltimore Sun, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English asma, borrowed from Medieval Latin asma, asthma, borrowed from Greek ásthma "panting, shortness of breath, asthma (as a medical condition)," of uncertain origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing asthma

• anti-asthma
• bronchial asthma

Kids Definition

asthma

noun

asth·​ma ˈaz-mə 

: a condition that is marked by difficulty in breathing with wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and coughing

asthmatic

az-ˈmat-ik 

adjective or noun

asthmatically

-ˈmat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

asthma

noun

asth·​ma ˈaz-mə 

: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)