blood clot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Predominantly medical/clinical, but also common in everyday health discussions.
Quick answer
What does “blood clot” mean?
A semisolid or gelatinous mass formed when blood coagulates, typically within a blood vessel or at a wound site.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A semisolid or gelatinous mass formed when blood coagulates, typically within a blood vessel or at a wound site.
1. A medical condition where this coagulation occurs inappropriately, potentially causing blockages. 2. Figuratively, any impediment or blockage to normal flow or progress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the term is identical. Pronunciations may vary slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. Associated with serious health risks like stroke, heart attack, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties due to global medical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “blood clot” in a Sentence
[Subject/Patient] developed/had a blood clot in [location].A blood clot formed/blocked/traveled to [location].[Treatment] is used to dissolve/prevent the blood clot.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blood clot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The wound is starting to blood clot nicely.
- His blood clotted too quickly, causing concern.
American English
- The blood will clot within minutes.
- Her condition prevents her blood from clotting properly.
adjective
British English
- He was diagnosed with a blood-clot disorder.
- They assessed the blood-clot risk.
American English
- She is on blood-clot prevention medication.
- The blood-clot issue required immediate surgery.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figurative use: 'A blood clot in the supply chain halted production.'
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and health sciences literature.
Everyday
Common in discussions of health, medication side-effects (e.g., 'the pill can cause blood clots'), and news reports.
Technical
The primary context. Used with precision in clinical diagnosis (DVT, PE, stroke) and haematology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blood clot”
- Misspelling as 'bloodclot' (should be two words or hyphenated: 'blood-clot'). Using 'clot' alone where 'blood clot' is needed for clarity. Confusing 'clot' (noun/verb) with 'clotting' (gerund/noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Blood clotting (coagulation) is a vital process to stop bleeding from injuries. It becomes dangerous (pathological) when a clot forms unnecessarily inside a blood vessel or travels to a critical organ.
A thrombus is a blood clot that forms and remains stationary in a blood vessel. An embolus is any particle (often a piece of a thrombus that has broken off) that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a narrower vessel, causing a blockage (embolism).
The phrase itself is a noun. The related verb is simply 'clot' (e.g., 'The blood clotted'). 'Blood clot' can be used in compound adjectives (e.g., blood-clot risk) but is not standard as a verb.
Symptoms depend on location: In a leg (DVT) - swelling, pain, redness. In the lung (PE) - sudden shortness of breath, chest pain. In the brain (stroke) - facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty. Immediate medical attention is crucial.
A semisolid or gelatinous mass formed when blood coagulates, typically within a blood vessel or at a wound site.
Blood clot is usually predominantly medical/clinical, but also common in everyday health discussions. in register.
Blood clot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌklɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌklɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Clotting the wheels of progress (rare, figurative extension).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a drop of BLOOD turning into a sticky, jelly-like CLOT of jam, blocking a thin straw (blood vessel).
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD CLOT IS A BLOCKAGE/OBSTRUCTION (in a pipeline or channel). BLOOD CLOT IS A GEL/JELLY.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a specific medical synonym for a stationary blood clot?