Asphyxiate is a verb that means to cause someone to stop breathing or become unconscious due to lack of oxygen. Its spelling is a bit tricky, but it can be explained using the IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "as-", is pronounced with a short vowel sound like "a" in "cat". The second syllable, "-phyx-", is pronounced with a long "i" sound like "igh" in "high". The final syllable, "-iate", is pronounced with a long "a" sound like "ay" in "day".
Asphyxiate is a verb that refers to the act of causing someone or something to be deprived of oxygen, leading to suffocation or death. This term is often used to describe a process wherein the normal flow of oxygen is impeded, resulting in respiratory distress or cessation of breathing.
In a medical context, asphyxiate describes scenarios in which an individual's airway becomes obstructed, preventing the intake of air into the lungs. This obstruction may be caused by external factors, such as choking on an object, or internal factors, such as respiratory illnesses or allergic reactions. In these cases, immediate attention is crucial to remove the obstruction or provide artificial respiration so that the person can resume adequate oxygen intake.
Furthermore, asphyxiate can occur in environments with limited oxygen or excessive presence of harmful gases. For instance, in a confined space lacking ventilation, such as a closed room with a gas leak, individuals may experience asphyxiation due to the displaced oxygen. Similarly, certain chemicals or toxins can prevent the proper functioning of the respiratory system, leading to asphyxiation when inhaled or ingested.
Used metaphorically, asphyxiate can describe the state of feeling suffocated or overwhelmed, often reflecting a sense of being restrained, oppressed, or stifled in certain situations or relationships. It conveys a figurative sense of being deprived of personal freedom or opportunity to express oneself fully.
Overall, asphyxiate entails the action or condition of impeding oxygen intake, whether it be physical suffocation, oxygen deprivation, or a metaphorical sense of feeling stifled.
To induce asphyxia, to suffocate.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "asphyxiate" has its roots in the Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "asphyxia", meaning "stoppage of the pulse" or "lack of oxygen". The Greek word is a combination of "a-" (meaning "without") and "sphyzein" (meaning "to throb" or "to beat"). The term was originally used in medical contexts to describe a condition where there is a lack of oxygen or an interruption of the heartbeat, leading to suffocation or unconsciousness. Over time, "asphyxiate" came to be used in a broader sense, referring to the act of causing someone or something to suffocate or be deprived of oxygen.