LingvoCore.com

asthma: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

B1
UK/ˈæsmə/US/ˈæzmə/ or /ˈæsmə/

Neutral to Formal (common in medical, everyday health, and news contexts)

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “asthma” mean?

A medical condition that causes difficulty in breathing, often due to inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A medical condition that causes difficulty in breathing, often due to inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs.

While strictly medical, it is often used figuratively in social/political contexts to describe restrictions, suffocation, or things that prevent free movement or expression.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Spelling and pronunciation are identical. Treatment terminology may differ slightly (e.g., 'preventer inhaler' more common in UK vs. 'controller inhaler' in US).

Connotations

No significant connotative differences. Associated with modern urban living, pollution, and allergies in both varieties.

Frequency

Equally frequent in both varieties due to its medical nature.

Grammar

How to Use “asthma” in a Sentence

have asthmasuffer from asthmadiagnosed with asthmatrigger someone's asthmaan attack of asthma

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
severe asthmaasthma attackchronic asthmacontrol/manage asthmatrigger asthma
medium
childhood asthmaallergic asthmaasthma symptomssuffer from asthmadiagnose asthma
weak
bad asthmaproblem with asthmaasthma patientlive with asthma

Examples

Examples of “asthma” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The cold air can asthma him.
  • The doctor explained what asthmas the patient.

American English

  • The cold air can asthma him.
  • The doctor explained what asthmas the patient.

adverb

British English

  • He breathed asthmatically after the run. (Note: 'asthmatically' derived from 'asthmatic')
  • The character in the play coughed asthmatically.

American English

  • She puffed asthmatically on the cold morning. (Note: 'asthmatically' derived from 'asthmatic')
  • The old engine wheezed asthmatically.

adjective

British English

  • She is an asthmatic child. (Note: 'asthmatic' is the adjective, not 'asthma')
  • The asthma clinic is on the second floor.

American English

  • He has asthmatic symptoms. (Note: 'asthmatic' is the adjective)
  • The asthma specialist adjusted her medication.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in workplace health contexts or pharmaceutical industry reports.

Academic

Common in medical, public health, and epidemiological research.

Everyday

Common in conversations about health, children, allergies, and pollution.

Technical

Specific in pulmonology/immunology: 'atopic asthma', 'non-atopic asthma', 'status asthmaticus'.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “asthma”

Strong

bronchial asthmareactive airway disease (RAD)

Neutral

respiratory conditionbronchial disorder

Weak

breathing difficultywheeze (symptom, not condition)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “asthma”

clear lungsunobstructed breathingrespiratory health

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “asthma”

  • Incorrect: 'He has an asthma.' (Correct: 'He has asthma.' – uncountable)
  • Spelling: 'asmatha', 'azma'.
  • Pronunciation: pronouncing the 'th' as /θ/.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, asthma is not contagious. It is a chronic condition often related to genetics, allergies, and environmental factors.

There is no cure for asthma, but it can be effectively managed with medication and lifestyle adjustments, allowing people to live full, active lives.

Asthma is a chronic condition with reversible airway narrowing. Acute bronchitis is usually a temporary infection causing inflammation. Chronic bronchitis is a different long-term condition often caused by smoking.

The spelling 'asthma' comes from Greek, where the 'th' represented a different sound. In English, the cluster 'sth' /sm/ or /zm/ is simplified for easier pronunciation, making the 'th' silent.

A medical condition that causes difficulty in breathing, often due to inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs.

Asthma is usually neutral to formal (common in medical, everyday health, and news contexts) in register.

Asthma: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæsmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæzmə/ or /ˈæsmə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “[Figurative] 'economic asthma' = severe constraints on economic activity”
  • “[Figurative] 'political asthma' = restrictions on political freedom.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'AS Throbbing MAchine' – your chest feels tight and throbs like a machine struggling for air during an asthma attack.

Conceptual Metaphor

ASTHMA IS A CONSTRICTOR/VISE (tightening around the chest), ASTHMA IS AN UNINVITED OCCUPANT (living in one's lungs).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Dust and pollen are common for an asthma attack.
Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes 'asthma'?

asthma: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore