Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

diaphragm

/ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.09 in modern English

Syllables
di-aphragm
IPA
/ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
18
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs.

noun

Any of various membranes or sheets of muscle or ligament which separate one cavity from another.

noun

A contraceptive device consisting of a flexible cup, used to cover the cervix during intercourse.

noun

A flexible membrane separating two chambers and fixed around its periphery that distends into one or other chamber as the difference in the pressure in the chambers varies.

noun

In a speaker, the thin, semi-rigid membrane which vibrates to produce sound.

noun

A thin opaque structure with a central aperture, used to limit the passage of light into a camera or similar device.

noun

A permeable or semipermeable membrane.

noun

A floor slab, metal wall panel, roof panel or the like, having a sufficiently large in-plane shear stiffness and sufficient strength to transmit horizontal forces to resisting systems.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English diafragma, Ancient Greek διάφραγμα (diáphragma, “partition”), from διά (diá, “across”) and φράγμα (phrágma, “barrier”), from the verb φράσσω (phrássō). First attested in the late 14th century.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: diafragma, διάφραγμα

Inflected Forms

diaphragms (plural) diaphragms (present, singular) diaphragming (participle, present) diaphragmed (participle, past) diaphragmed (past)

Derived Forms

diaphragmal diaphragmatic diaphragmatically diaphragmic diaphragmitis diaphragmless hemidiaphragm interdiaphragm microdiaphragm

Phrases

diaphragm arch diaphragm cell diaphragm pump diaphragm seal diaphragm shutter diaphragm valve diaphragm wall iris diaphragm

Frequently Paired Words

internal condom female condom external condom male condom condom IUD intrauterine device

Synonyms

stop pessary contraceptive diaphragm midriff

Questions

How do you pronounce diaphragm?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/.
What does diaphragm mean?
In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs.
Where does diaphragm come from?
It is traced to Middle English. First known use: First attested in the late 14th century.

How to pronounce diaphragm

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “diaphragm”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “diaphragm”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “diaphragm” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.