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

The child, who had a history of asthma, an elevated body-mass index and Class 2 obesity, was discharged that day with no treatment. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025

And the notion of giving raw milk to any of them for the purpose of preventing things like asthma or any other reason is misguided. —Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 24 Dec. 2024

Health risks:For people with asthma and breathing problems, winter air pollution can feel deadly These particles are small enough to reach deep into the lungs or enter the bloodstream, creating difficulty breathing, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke and causing irregular heartbeats. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024

Breathing in ozone pollution or smog can lead to chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma and even cause premature death. —Susan Miller, Baltimore Sun, 19 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)