Meaning & use
diaphragm
The dome-shaped muscle beneath the lungs that contracts and relaxes to control breathing.
See it in a sentence
Singers learn to breathe from the diaphragm to sustain long notes.
A sudden hiccup happens when the diaphragm spasms involuntarily and forces air past the vocal cords.
A note on using this word
Diaphragm can also refer to a dome-shaped contraceptive device or to a vibrating disk in a speaker or camera lens.
Words with a similar meaning
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