How to Pronounce Silicosis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Silicosis Pronunciation
sil-ih-KOH-sis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
sil
ih
KOH
stress here
sis
4 syllables
What is Silicosis?
An irreversible and potentially fatal occupational lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, common in mining, quarrying, and construction. It causes progressive lung scarring, disability, and increased susceptibility to tuberculosis.
Questions About Silicosis
How do you pronounce silicosis?
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Silicosis is pronounced sil-ih-KOH-sis. Break it into four syllables: SIL-i-KO-sis. The stress falls on the third syllable, KOH, which should be said louder and longer than the others.
What is the most common mispronunciation of silicosis?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable and say sil-ih-koh-SIS (stressing the last syllable) or sil-ih-KOS-is. The correct stress is on the third syllable: sil-ih-KOH-sis, not the last one.
What does the word silicosis break down into?
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Silicosis comes from two parts: 'silic-' meaning silicon or silica (a hard mineral), and '-osis' which is a Greek suffix meaning "a condition or disease." Together, it literally means "a condition related to silica."
What does '-osis' mean in medical words?
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The suffix '-osis' comes from Greek and means a disease, condition, or abnormal state. You'll see it in many medical terms like necrosis (death of tissue) and fibrosis (scarring of tissue).
What are some related words that use the same root as silicosis?
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Words related to silicosis include silica (the mineral dust itself) and silicate (a chemical compound containing silica). All of these words share the 'silic-' root referring to silicon or silica.
How would you use silicosis in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The documentary explained how workers in certain industries can be exposed to silica dust that may lead to silicosis." The word is typically used as a noun to name the condition itself.
Is there a short form or abbreviation for silicosis?
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Silicosis is sometimes abbreviated as 'silico-' in compound terms (like silico-tuberculosis), but there is no common short abbreviation like "sil." The full word silicosis is used in most medical and professional contexts.
What is the plain English meaning of silicosis?
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In everyday language, silicosis is a serious lung disease caused by breathing in fine mineral dust over time. It's an occupational disease, meaning it develops from workplace exposure rather than from something that spreads from person to person.