edema

especially British, oe·de·ma

[ih-dee-muh]

noun

Pathology.

plural

edemas, edemata 

1. effusion of serous fluid into the interstices of cells in tissue spaces or into body cavities.

2. Plant Pathology.

   1. a small surface swelling of plant parts, caused by excessive moisture.

   2. any disease so characterized.

edema

/ ɪˈdɛmətəs, ɪˈdiːmə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of oedema

edema

1. An accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or body cavities. Edema can be mild and benign as in pregnancy or prolonged standing in the elderly, or a serious sign of heart, liver, or kidney failure, or of other diseases.

Other Word Forms

• edematous adjective
• edematose adjective
• pseudoedema noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of edema¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; from New Latin oedēma, from Greek oídēma “a swelling,” equivalent to oidē- (variant stem of oideîn “to swell”) + -ma noun suffix

Example Sentences

She said the condition, called Reinke's edema, makes touring challenging because it causes the "ultimate vocal fry".

From BBC

Acute exposure by inhalation can cause respiratory issues such as difficulty breathing, congestion, edema and lung hemorrhages, while oral ingestion can cause adverse effects in the blood and thyroid.

From Los Angeles Times

Lawyers for the condemned argued that “pentobarbital caused flash pulmonary edema, in which fluid rushes through quickly disintegrating membranes into lungs and airways, causing pain akin to being suffocated or drowned.”

From Salon

He was diagnosed with nerve inflammation and edema and told to rest.

From Seattle Times

He said that Mr. Tin Oo had a weak heart and died of kidney failure and pulmonary edema.

From New York Times