noun
pleurisy
PLOOR-uh-see/ˈplʊrəsi/
Inflammation of the membrane around the lungs that causes painful breathing.
The reddened pleural lining around the lung shows inflammation associated with pleurisy.
Etymology
Latin pleuritis meant “pain in the side.” The modern term names the inflammation of the lung lining associated with that pain, rather than side pain generally.
In context
disorders of the pleura can affect the function of the respiratory system and lead to serious health problems some examples include pleurisy which is a condition in which the pleura become inflamed causing chest pain and difficulty breathing
More examples
- The doctor diagnoses pleurisy after examining him.
- Her pleurisy makes coughing painful.
- Treatment for pleurisy depends on what causes the inflammation.
Forms
pleuritic adjective — Relating to or affected by pleurisy.
Similar words
- pleuritis
- A medical synonym for the same inflammation around the lungs.