phlegm

phlegm
noun /flɛm/
a) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.

Each persons unique mixture of these substances determines his temperament: a predominance of blood gives a sanguine temperament; a predominance of phlegm makes one phlegmatic; yellow bile, bilious (or choleric); and black bile, melancholic.

b) Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.

"Even some members of the new bourgeoisie indulge in conspicuously boorish behavior, like hawking phlegm onto the pavement or picking their noses at business meetings."

See Also: phlegmatic, phlegmy

Wikipedia foundation.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Phlegm — (pron en|ˈflεm) is sticky fluid secreted by the mucous membranes of humans and other animals. Its definition is limited to the mucus produced by the respiratory system, excluding that from the nasal passages, and particularly that which is… …   Wikipedia

  • Phlegm — Phlegm, n. [F. phlegme, flegme, L. phlegma, fr. Gr. ? a flame, inflammation, phlegm, a morbid, clammy humor in the body, fr. ? to burn. Cf. {Phlox}, {Flagrant}, {Flame}, {Bleak}, a., and {Fluminate}.] 1. One of the four humors of which the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • phlegm|y — «FLEHM ee», adjective. 1. like phlegm. 2. characterized by phlegm. 3. = phlegmatic. (Cf. ↑phlegmatic) …   Useful english dictionary

  • phlegm — [flem] n [U] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: fleume, from Latin phlegma, from Greek, flame, phlegm , from phlegein to burn ] 1.) the thick yellowish substance produced in your nose and throat, especially when you have a cold = ↑mucus 2.)… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • phlegm — index disinterest (lack of interest), languor, sloth Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • phlegm — [ flem ] noun uncount 1. ) a thick yellow or green substance that you get in your nose and throat, especially when you have a cold 2. ) FORMAL the ability to be calm in a dangerous or frightening situation …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • phlegm — late 14c., fleem viscid mucus (the stuff itself and also regarded as a bodily humor), from O.Fr. fleume (13c., Fr. flegme), from L.L. phlegma, from Gk. phlegma inflammation, heat, humor caused by heat, from phlegein to burn, related to phlox (gen …   Etymology dictionary

  • phlegm — 1 impassivity, stolidity, apathy, stoicism (see under IMPASSIVE) Analogous words: insensibility, insensitiveness, impassibility, anesthesia (see corresponding adjectives at INSENSIBLE) 2 *equanimity, composure, sangfroid Analogous words:… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • phlegm — meaning ‘a viscous substance discharged by coughing’, is pronounced flem. The g is also silent in the adjective phlegmy, but is pronounced in phlegmatic (fleg mat ik), meaning ‘stolidly calm and unemotional’ …   Modern English usage

  • phlegm — ► NOUN 1) the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages. 2) (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humours, believed to be associated with a calm or apathetic temperament. 3) calmness… …   English terms dictionary

  • phlegm — [flem] n. [ME fleume < MFr < LL phlegma, clammy humor of the body < Gr, inflammation, hence, humors caused by inflammation < phlegein, to burn: for IE base see BLACK] 1. the thick, stringy mucus secreted by the mucous glands of the… …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”