bronchodilator: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (specialized)Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “bronchodilator” mean?
A substance or drug that widens the airways in the lungs by relaxing the muscles around the bronchial tubes, making breathing easier.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substance or drug that widens the airways in the lungs by relaxing the muscles around the bronchial tubes, making breathing easier.
A class of medications used to treat conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by relieving bronchospasm. They can be short-acting for immediate relief or long-acting for ongoing control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in definition or use. Spelling conventions remain the same. The acronym 'BDR' is sometimes used in American clinical notes.
Connotations
Purely clinical, with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally infrequent in general speech in both regions, but standard in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bronchodilator” in a Sentence
[Patient] was given/administered a bronchodilator.The bronchodilator [verb: relieved/opened/eased] the constriction.[Drug Name] acts as a bronchodilator.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bronchodilator” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient needs to be bronchodilated before the procedure.
American English
- We will bronchodilate the patient to assess reversible airflow obstruction.
adjective
British English
- The bronchodilator effect was measured via spirometry.
American English
- She experienced significant bronchodilator response during the test.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical industry reports discussing drug portfolios or sales.
Academic
Common in medical, pharmacology, and respiratory physiology texts and research papers.
Everyday
Uncommon. People with respiratory conditions might say 'my reliever inhaler' or 'my puffer' instead.
Technical
Standard term in clinical settings, patient notes, drug formularies, and medical guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bronchodilator”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bronchodilator”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bronchodilator”
- Misspelling: 'broncodilator' (missing 'h'), 'bronchodialator'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing 'bron' instead of 'broncho' /ˌbrɒŋkəʊ/ or /ˌbrɑːŋkoʊ/.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to bronchodilate' is very rare; 'to administer a bronchodilator' is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bronchodilators relax airway muscles for quick relief. Steroid inhalers (corticosteroids) reduce inflammation over time for long-term control. They are often used together.
You do not become chemically dependent. However, over-reliance on short-acting bronchodilators (using them more than prescribed) is a sign of poorly controlled asthma and requires a doctor's review.
Short-acting types (like salbutamol) work within minutes for 4-6 hours. Long-acting types (like salmeterol) take longer to start but last 12 hours or more for ongoing control.
Common side effects can include a fast heartbeat, tremor (shaking hands), headaches, and mild nervousness, especially with high doses.
A substance or drug that widens the airways in the lungs by relaxing the muscles around the bronchial tubes, making breathing easier.
Bronchodilator is usually technical/medical in register.
Bronchodilator: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɒŋkəʊdaɪˈleɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɑːŋkoʊˈdaɪleɪtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BRONCHO (like bronchial tubes in the lungs) + DILATOR (something that dilates or widens). So, a 'bronchial widener'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE AIRWAYS ARE TUNNELS / CONSTRICTED TUBES (A bronchodilator opens the narrowed tunnel).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a primary function of a bronchodilator?