noun

effusion

ih-FYOO-zhun/ɪˈfjuːʒn/

An escape or outpouring of fluid.

An effusion of tears wets her cheeks as she embraces her friend.

An older woman gives an exuberant, tearful embrace to a friend: eyes squeezed shut, cheeks wet, mouth open in a joyful cry, and both arms wrapped tightly around her.

Etymology

efLatinout

+fusLatinto pour

+ionLatinact or result

The pieces describe a pouring out. That physical image became figurative: feelings or words flow outward abundantly, as though they were liquid spilling from a container.

More examples

An effusion can make the knee swollen and painful.
The doctor drains the pleural effusion to ease her breathing.
Small effusions sometimes clear up without treatment.

Forms

effusion · effusions

Similar words

leakage: Emphasizes fluid escaping rather than collecting in a body cavity.
seepage: Specifically describes slow fluid escape through small openings or pores.