Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Temporary absence or voluntary cessation of breathing.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In pathology, partial privation or suspension of respiration; want of breath.
  • noun See apnæa.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun transient cessation of respiration.
  • noun (Med.) Partial privation or suspension of breath; suffocation; same as apnea.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun pathology The cessation of breathing.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun transient cessation of respiration

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin apnoea, from Greek apnoia : a-, without; see a– + pnoiā, -pnoia, breathing (from pnein, to breathe; see pneu- in Indo-European roots).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the New Latin apnoea, from the Ancient Greek ἄπνοια (apnoia), formed from ἀ- (a-, "absence of") + πνοή (pnoē, "breathing").

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Examples

  • The term apnea is derived from the Greek word meaning "without breath."

    courierpress.com Stories 2010

  • The term apnea is derived from the Greek word meaning "without breath."

    courierpress.com Stories 2010

  • When apnea is treated, negative intrathoracic pressure is reversed, acid stays in the stomach and stress hormone levels decline, allowing for easier weight loss.

    Diet Update, a New Resolve and a Cheerio aka TBTAM 2008

  • Sleep apnea is when breathing is interrupted repeatedly, disrupting the quality of sleep and leading to daytime fatigue.

    Childhood obesity: A lifetime of danger 2008

  • Childhood obstructive sleep apnea is most commonly found in children between 2 and 6 years of age, but can occur at any age.

    Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea 2005

  • In children, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

    Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea 2005

  • The treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is based on its cause.

    Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea 2005

  • Sleep apnea is more common in children who are overweight; however, some children with enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids may even be underweight.

    Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea 2005

  • "Here's where I ask one of my rude questions: Is the word apnea being avoided because people don't associate it with 'dying', but recognize the term as covering a variety of treatable conditions?"

    Catholic Exchange 2009

  • • Sleep apnea, which is interrupted breathing while sleeping, is one of the most severe problems overweight children face.

    Baby Bites Bridget Swinney 2007

  • Ms. Stone has since expanded the concept and renamed it “screen apnea,” referring to the disruption of breathing many of us experience doing all kinds of tasks in front of a screen.

    Checking Email? You’re Probably Not Breathing. Alisha Haridasani Gupta 2023

Comments

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  • The joy of breathlessness.

    May 31, 2007