embolus
[ em-buh-luh s ]
/ ˈɛm bə ləs /
noun, plural em·bo·li [em-buh-lahy] /ˈɛm bəˌlaɪ/. Pathology.
undissolved material carried by the blood and impacted in some part of the vascular system, as thrombi or fragments of thrombi, tissue fragments, clumps of bacteria, protozoan parasites, fat globules, or gas bubbles.
Origin of embolus
1660–70; < Latin: piston < Greek
émbolos stopper, equivalent to
em-
em-2 +
bólos a throw, akin to
bállein to throw
Words nearby embolus
embolism,
embolite,
embolization,
embolize,
embololalia,
embolus,
embolus ,
emboly,
embonpoint,
embosk,
embosom
Example sentences from the Web for embolus
British Dictionary definitions for embolus
embolus
/ (ˈɛmbələs) /
noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
material, such as part of a blood clot or an air bubble, that is transported by the blood stream until it becomes lodged within a small vessel and impedes the circulation
Compare thrombus
Word Origin for embolus
C17: via Latin from Greek
embolos stopper, from
emballein to insert, from
ballein to throw; see
emblem
Medical definitions for embolus
embolus
[ ĕm′bə-ləs ]
n. pl. em•bo•li (-lī′)
A mass, such as an air bubble, detached blood clot, or foreign body, that travels in the bloodstream and lodges in a blood vessel, thus serving to obstruct or occlude such a vessel.
Scientific definitions for embolus
embolus
[ ĕm′bə-ləs ]
Plural emboli (ĕm′bə-lī)
See embolism.