asthma Hear it!

asthma definition

asth·ma (az′mə; chiefly Brit as′-)

noun

a generally chronic disorder characterized by wheezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, and a suffocating feeling, caused by an allergy to ingested substances, stress, etc.

Etymology: ME asma < ML < Gr asthma, a panting, asthma

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.