Meaning & use
aneurysms
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“aneurysms” is a form of “aneurysm”.
Meaning
nouncountablemedical
A weak, bulging area in the wall of a blood vessel that can burst and cause serious bleeding.
Grammar: Countable; the singular is 'aneurysm' and the plural is 'aneurysms'.
Patterns
- have an aneurysm
- an aneurysm in something
- a brain aneurysm
The scan showed two small aneurysms in the arteries near her heart.
He was rushed to hospital when an aneurysm in his brain burst.
Doctors monitor aneurysms regularly to see if they are growing.
Word forms
| singular | aneurysm |
|---|
Common combinations
- brain aneurysm
- A brain aneurysm can be life-threatening if it ruptures.
- aortic aneurysm
- An aortic aneurysm often causes no symptoms until it tears.
- ruptured aneurysm
- A ruptured aneurysm requires emergency surgery.
- develop an aneurysm
- Some people develop an aneurysm as they get older.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bulge
- A general word for any swelling; 'aneurysm' is the precise medical term for a bulge in a blood vessel.
Word family
- aneurysmal adjective
- Relating to or caused by an aneurysm, as in 'aneurysmal bleeding'.
Commonly confused: aneurysms or embolism?
aneurysms vs embolism
An embolism is a blockage caused by a clot or air bubble, while an aneurysm is a weakened, bulging vessel wall.
Practice
The doctor said the patient had a small ______ in an artery near the heart.
Choose one answer.
The singular 'aneurysm' is needed after 'a small'. 'Aneurysms' is plural, and 'aneurysmal' and 'aneurysmally' are adjective and adverb forms that cannot follow 'a small'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aneurysms”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.