n.
Pronunciation: ' az-m ə , Brit ' as-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English asma, from Medieval Latin, modification of Greek asthma
Date: 14th century
: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)
– asth · mat · ic \ az- ' ma-tik, Brit as- \ adjective or noun
– asth · mat · i · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb