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Definition of "pneumothorax" [pneu•mo•tho•rax]

  • Accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity, occurring as a result of disease or injury, or sometimes induced to collapse the lung in the treatment of tuberculosis and other lung diseases. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "pneumothorax" in a sentence
  • "This condition is known as pneumothorax and may result in collapse of the lung."
  • "The team said the condition, known as pneumothorax, wasn't unusual for an injury such as the one Romo sustained against the 49ers."
  • "Another method, called pneumothorax which had no serious after-effects, consisted of injecting air into the pleural cavity to collapse the lung."