Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

decompression sickness

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.88 in modern English

Syllables: de-com-pres-sion sick-ness
IPA

34

Scrabble Score

21

Letters

5

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A sometimes fatal condition resulting from the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and tissues, because of too rapid decompression, seen especially in deep-sea divers ascending rapidly from a dive. It is characterized by severe pains in the joints and chest, skin irritation, cramps, nausea, and paralysis.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The diver suffered underwater decompression sickness after searching for the bodies of the Italians who, according to Italy’s foreign ministry, had “apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (164ft)”."

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

DCS (abbreviation)

Synonyms

aeroembolism aeroemphysema the bends caisson disease air embolism gas embolism bends

Questions

What does decompression sickness mean?: A sometimes fatal condition resulting from the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and tissues, because of too rapid decompression, seen especially in deep-sea divers ascending rapidly from a dive. It is characterized by severe pains in the joints and chest, skin irritation, cramps, nausea, and paralysis.

How to pronounce decompression sickness

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