stridor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/AdvancedMedical/Technical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “stridor” mean?
A harsh, grating, high-pitched sound, especially one produced during breathing, indicating partial airway obstruction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A harsh, grating, high-pitched sound, especially one produced during breathing, indicating partial airway obstruction.
Any harsh, discordant sound, often used metaphorically in literature to describe grating noises in machinery or environments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly higher frequency in UK medical texts due to spelling preferences (e.g., 'paediatric stridor').
Connotations
In both variants, carries a strong association with acute medical distress and urgency.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language; almost exclusively found in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “stridor” in a Sentence
Patient presents with stridor.Stridor was noted on auscultation.The stridor indicated airway compromise.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stridor” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- stridorous (UK: less common)
American English
- stridorous (US: standard medical adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, and biological sciences to describe pathological respiratory sounds.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only be used by a medical professional explaining a symptom.
Technical
Core term in otolaryngology, pulmonology, emergency medicine, and anaesthesiology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stridor”
- Confusing 'stridor' with 'stridency' (which relates to loud, harsh speech).
- Using it to describe any rough sound, losing its specific medical precision.
- Pronouncing it /ˈstrɪdɔː(r)/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Extremely rarely. Its primary and almost exclusive domain is clinical medicine. Literary use is highly specialised and metaphorical.
Stridor is a high-pitched, predominantly inspiratory sound caused by upper airway obstruction. Wheeze is a high-pitched musical sound, often expiratory, caused by lower airway obstruction (e.g., in asthma).
No. The related, much rarer verb is 'stridulate', used for insects like crickets making a chirping sound.
The primary difference is the treatment of the final 'r'. UK: /ˈstrʌɪdə/ (non-rhotic). US: /ˈstraɪdɚ/ (rhotic, with a pronounced /r/). The vowel in the first syllable is typically the same diphthong /aɪ/.
A harsh, grating, high-pitched sound, especially one produced during breathing, indicating partial airway obstruction.
Stridor is usually medical/technical, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STRIding runner (STRID-) who can't get enough air and makes a harsh sound (-OR).
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTRUCTION IS NOISE / DISTRESS IS A HARSH SOUND.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'stridor' MOST appropriately used?