— emphysematous /em'feuh sem"euh teuhs, -see"meuh-, -zem"euh-, -zee"meuh-/ , adj. — emphysemic , adj.
/em'feuh see"meuh, -zee"-/ , n. Pathol.
1. a chronic, irreversible disease of the lungs characterized by abnormal enlargement of air spaces in the lungs accompanied by destruction of the tissue lining the walls of the air spaces.
2. any abnormal distention of an organ, or part of the body, with air or other gas.
[ 1655-65; emphýsema inflation, equiv. to em- EM- 2 + physe- (var. s. of physân to blow) + -ma n. suffix denoting result of action ]