sputum

/'spju:təm/

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Word: Sputum

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition:

Sputum is a thick fluid that comes from your lungs and is released when you cough. It is a mixture of saliva (spit) and mucus (the sticky substance in your nose and throat) that can also contain other materials like bacteria or dead cells.

Usage Instructions:

• When to use: You would typically use the word "sputum" when talking about health, especially in medical contexts or when discussing respiratory illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia.
• How to use: It is often used in sentences where someone is describing symptoms related to coughing or lung conditions.

Example:

• “The doctor asked me to provide a sample of my sputum to test for infection.”

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, sputum can be analyzed in a laboratory to identify infections, such as tuberculosis or pneumonia. Healthcare professionals might say: - “The sputum culture showed the presence of bacteria.”

Word Variants:

• Sputum (noun): The singular form.
• Sputa (noun): The plural form used in more formal or scientific contexts.

Different Meanings:

In ancient and medieval medicine, sputum was believed to impact a person's health negatively, causing sluggishness or lethargy. However, this belief is outdated and not used in modern medical discussions.

Synonyms:

• Phlegm: A more common word that refers to the mucus produced in the respiratory system.
• Mucus: A general term for the slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "sputum," you might encounter phrases like: - "Clear one's throat" which refers to coughing or making noise to clear mucus from the throat but does not specifically refer to sputum.

Summary:

"Sputum" is a medical term used to describe the mucus and saliva expelled from the lungs during coughing.

Academic

Noun

1. expectorated matter; saliva mixed with discharges from the respiratory passages; in ancient and medieval physiology it was believed to cause sluggishness

Synonyms

• phlegm