megalocardia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHighly Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “megalocardia” mean?
a medical condition characterized by an abnormally large heart.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a medical condition characterized by an abnormally large heart.
In medical terminology, it refers specifically to cardiomegaly, an enlargement of the heart muscle or chambers beyond normal dimensions, which can be a sign of underlying cardiovascular disease.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, spelling, or meaning. Both use the same Latinate medical term.
Connotations
Purely clinical and neutral in both variants.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both, confined to specialist medical literature and discourse. 'Cardiomegaly' is vastly more frequent.
Grammar
How to Use “megalocardia” in a Sentence
The patient presented with megalocardia.Megalocardia was confirmed on echocardiography.X-rays revealed significant megalocardia.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “megalocardia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The megalocardic ventricle was clearly visible on the scan.
American English
- The scans showed a megalocardic silhouette.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers discussing cardiac pathology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary domain of use; found in clinical notes, radiology reports, and cardiology textbooks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “megalocardia”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “megalocardia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “megalocardia”
- Using it metaphorically to mean 'generous' or 'loving'.
- Confusing it with 'tachycardia' (fast heart rate).
- Misspelling as 'megalo-cardia' or 'megalocaria'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly technical medical term. The more common term for the same condition is 'cardiomegaly' or 'enlarged heart'.
No. This is a common mistake. The term is purely anatomical/medical and describes a physical abnormality of the heart's size.
There is no meaningful difference in meaning. Both are compound words from Greek/Latin roots meaning 'large heart'. 'Cardiomegaly' is the far more established and frequently used term in modern medicine.
No, it is a sign or symptom of an underlying condition, such as heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, or hypertension. It describes the physical state of the heart, not the cause.
a medical condition characterized by an abnormally large heart.
Megalocardia is usually highly technical / medical in register.
Megalocardia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɛɡələʊˈkɑːdɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɛɡəloʊˈkɑːrdiə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MEGALO' (huge, like a megalodon shark) + 'CARDIA' (heart) = a huge heart.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'megalocardia' a synonym for?