noun
pneumonia
noo-MOH-nee-uh/nuːˈməʊniə/
A lung infection that inflames the air sacs and can make breathing difficult.
The cutaway shows lung inflammation caused by pneumonia.
Etymology
The lung root identifies the organ affected: pneumonia names inflammation within lung tissue, rather than in the bronchial tubes or the membrane covering the lungs.
In context
sepsis formerly called blood poisoning is usually triggered by a local infection such as pneumonia in the lungs
More examples
- She spent a week recovering from pneumonia.
- The hospital treated several cases of pneumonia.
- His breathing improved as the pneumonia cleared.
Forms
pneumonia · pneumonias
Similar words
- bronchitis
- Inflammation of the bronchial tubes rather than the lung air sacs.