diastole

noun

di·​as·​to·​le dī-ˈa-stə-(ˌ)lē 

: a rhythmically recurrent expansion

especially : the relaxation and dilation of the chambers of the heart and especially the ventricles during which they fill with blood compare systole

diastolic

ˌdī-ə-ˈstä-lik 

adjective

Examples of diastole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The participants were hooked up to an electrocardiogram machine to track their heartbeats and allow researchers to flash images at either systole or diastole. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2017

When the person in the image was black, participants who had to react during systole were more likely to shoot unarmed individuals, than people primed with the same image during diastole. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2017

For us this was diastole; the condition of the heart when it's fully dilated with blood just before it's ejected with a heart contraction to the body. —Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian, 21 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

Greek diastolē dilatation, from diastellein to expand, from dia- + stellein to prepare, send

First Known Use

circa 1578, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

diastole

noun

di·​as·​to·​le dī-ˈas-tə-(ˌ)lē 

: the relaxation of the heart during which its cavities expand and fill with blood compare systole

Medical Definition

diastole

noun

di·​as·​to·​le dī-ˈas-tə-(ˌ)lē 

1

: the passive rhythmical expansion or dilation of the cavities of the heart during which they fill with blood compare systole

2

: the rhythmical expansion of a pulsating vacuole (as of an amoeba)

diastolic

ˌdī-ə-ˈstäl-ik 

adjective