asphyxy

A patient is experiencing asphyxy in the emergency room.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A condition of suffocation: "asphyxy" refers to a state of being deprived of oxygen, leading to unconsciousness or death. It is a medical term for suffocation caused by an inability to breathe.
   • Synonymous with asphyxia: "asphyxy" is a variant spelling of "asphyxia", meaning the same pathological condition.

Usage Examples

• (Death caused by lack of oxygen from smoke.)
• (Medical care for suffocation.)

Advanced Usage

• "to suffer from asphyxy": to experience a lack of oxygen.

  • The climber suffered from asphyxy at high altitude. (The climber had difficulty breathing due to thin air.)

• "to cause asphyxy": to induce suffocation.

  • The tight plastic bag caused asphyxy in the child. (The bag obstructed breathing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Asphyxia (n): the standard medical term for a condition of deficient oxygen supply.
  • Asphyxia can result from drowning or choking. (Lack of oxygen from various causes.)
• Asphyxiate (v): to cause someone to suffer from asphyxia.
  • The gas leak could asphyxiate anyone in the room. (The gas could suffocate people.)
• Asphyxiation (n): the process or act of causing asphyxia.
  • Asphyxiation is a common cause of death in fires. (Suffocation from smoke.)

Synonyms

• Suffocation: the state or process of being deprived of air.
• Choking: obstruction of the airway preventing breathing.
• Strangulation: constriction of the throat cutting off air.

Related Idioms

• "to be asphyxiated": to be suffocated.
  • The firefighter was nearly asphyxiated by the thick smoke. (Almost killed by lack of air.)

Phrasal Verbs

• "to asphyxiate on": to suffocate because of something.
  • He nearly asphyxiated on a piece of food. (He choked on food.)