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

Sometimes, however, the infection will exacerbate pre-existing conditions like asthma and make people seriously ill. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024

One study linked the flooding from Tropical Storm Imelda, which impacted Texas in 2019, to an uptick in emergency department visits for insect bites, asthma, and diarrhea. —Henna Hundal, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

More recent studies have suggested that children exposed to indoor mold are more likely to develop asthma. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 16 Oct. 2024

Pneumothorax can also develop in people with certain lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, pneumonia, and COPD.18 Lung Cancer Lung cancer develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 16 Oct. 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)