congestion - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From late Middle English congestioun, from Old French [Term?], from Latin congestĭō (“heap, accumulation”), from congerō (“to bring together, accumulate, heap up”), formed by the root gerō (“to carry”) and the prefix con-.

congestion (countable and uncountable, plural congestions)

  1. The hindrance or blockage of the passage of something, for example a fluid, mixture, traffic, people, etc. (due to an excess of this or due to a partial or complete obstruction), resulting in overfilling or overcrowding.
    1. An accumulation or buildup, the act of gathering into a heap or mass.
      network congestion
    2. (medicine) Blocking up of the capillary and other blood vessels, etc., in any locality or organ (often producing other morbid symptoms); local hypermic, active or passive.
      arterial congestion
      venous congestion
      congestion of the lungs
  2. An excess or accumulation of something.
    1. An excess of traffic; usually not a complete standstill of traffic, so usually not synonymous with traffic jam.
      traffic congestion
      • 1959 April, C. R. Clinker and R. A. Dane, “The Railways of Peterborough”, in Railway Magazine, page 230:
        The crossing caused serious congestion with long traffic hold-ups, and had been a bone of contention between the local authorities and the railway for over eighty years. It was controlled from Fletton Road Junction Signalbox (removed at the same time) and, until a wheel was installed in 1920, required two gatemen on each turn of duty.
    2. (medicine) An excess of mucus or fluid in the respiratory system; congestion of the lungs, or nasal congestion.
    3. Edema, water retention, swelling, enlargement of a body part because of fluid retention in tissues and vessels.

accumulation, buildup

medicine: blocking up of the capillary and other blood vessels, etc., in any locality or organ (often producing other morbid symptoms); local hypermic, active or passive

excess of traffic

medicine: an excess of mucus or fluid in the respiratory system; congestion of the lungs, or nasal congestion — see also nasal congestion

edema, water retention, swelling, enlargement of a body part because of fluid retention in tissues and vessels — see edema

congestion f (plural congestions)

  1. congestion

congestion (uncountable)

  1. congestion

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