asphyxiation
/æs,fiksi'eiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The state or process of being deprived of oxygen, leading to unconsciousness or death: This is the primary medical and general meaning, referring to the condition caused by a severe lack of oxygen in the body, often due to an inability to breathe.
- The act of causing such a state: This meaning refers to the action of suffocating or smothering someone or something.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation. (The official reason for the person's death was a lack of oxygen.)
- Emergency responders treated the victim for smoke inhalation and asphyxiation. (The medical team helped someone who suffered from breathing problems and oxygen deprivation, likely from smoke.)
- The faulty heater posed a serious risk of carbon monoxide asphyxiation. (The broken heater was dangerous because it could release a gas that prevents the body from using oxygen.)
Advanced Usage
- "Autoerotic asphyxiation": A dangerous practice where a person intentionally restricts oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal, which carries a high risk of accidental death.
- Authorities warned about the extreme dangers of autoerotic asphyxiation.
Variants and Related Words
- Asphyxiate (verb): To cause asphyxiation; to suffocate.
- The thick smoke began to asphyxiate the trapped firefighters.
- Asphyxiant (noun/adjective): A substance, such as a gas, that can cause asphyxiation.
- Carbon monoxide is a deadly chemical asphyxiant.
Synonyms
- Suffocation: The most common synonym, implying death or discomfort from being unable to breathe.
- Smothering: Often implies death caused by covering the nose and mouth or by an overwhelming presence of something (e.g., smoke, a heavy substance).
- Strangulation: Specifically refers to asphyxiation caused by external pressure on the neck.
Related Phrases and Contexts
- Risk of asphyxiation: A common warning label on plastic bags or products for small children.
- The toy contained small parts, presenting a choking hazard and a risk of asphyxiation.
- Terminal asphyxiation: A medical term for asphyxiation that leads to death.
Noun
- killing by depriving of oxygen
- the condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped)
- asphyxiation is sometimes used as a form of torture