Definitions

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

  • noun An abnormal respiratory sound characterized by fine crackles.

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

  • noun medicine An abnormal clicking, rattling or crackling sound, made by one or both lungs and heard with a stethoscope, caused by the popping open of airways collapsed by fluid or exudate, or sometimes by pulmonary edema.

Etymologies

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

[French râle, from râler, to make a rattling sound in the throat, from Old French racler, to scrape, rattle; see raclette.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French râle.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word rale.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Also called a crackle, very nearly a plurale tantum. Sounds like rubbing your hair with your fingers very close to your ear. Often means some type of fluid build-up within the lung.

    December 19, 2007

  • Usage on crepitant.

    February 11, 2009