Definition

1. Noun:
   • A specific medical condition: "Essential tremor" refers to a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic shaking. This tremor typically affects the hands and head, and sometimes the voice. Its cause is unknown (idiopathic), and it usually develops in older adults. It is often confused with Parkinson's disease but is distinct, generally not life-threatening, and often manageable.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor diagnosed her shaking hands as essential tremor.
  • Essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders.
  • Unlike Parkinson's disease, essential tremor is usually more noticeable during voluntary movement, like holding a cup.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical context: The term is used precisely in medical diagnosis to distinguish this condition from other types of tremor (e.g., Parkinsonian tremor, cerebellar tremor).
  • The key feature distinguishing essential tremor from Parkinsonism is that it is primarily an action tremor.

Variants and Related Words

• Tremor (n): The general term for an involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction leading to shaking movements. "Essential tremor" is a specific subtype.
• Familial tremor (n): Another name for essential tremor, often used when it runs in families.
• Benign essential tremor (n): An older term emphasizing that the condition is not life-threatening.

Synonyms

• Familial tremor
• Benign essential tremor
• Hereditary tremor (when there is a family history)

Related Phrases

• Action tremor: A tremor that occurs during voluntary movement, which is characteristic of essential tremor.
• Postural tremor: A tremor that appears when maintaining a position against gravity, such as holding arms outstretched; also a feature of essential tremor.

Notes

• Idioms/Phrasal Verbs: As a specific medical term, "essential tremor" does not have associated idioms or phrasal verbs. It is used as a fixed noun phrase.

Noun

1. tremor of unknown cause (usually of the hands and head) that develops in older people; often mistaken for Parkinsonism but is not life-threatening and can usually be kept under control