chronic

COPD How COPD differs from asthma, and why it's important to not smoke.

adj.

1. Of long duration; continuing: chronic money problems.
2. Lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence, as certain diseases: chronic colitis.
3. Subject to a habit or pattern of behavior for a long time: a chronic liar.

[French chronique, from Latin chronicus, from Greek khronikos, of time, from khronos, time.]

chronically chron'i·cal·ly adv.
chronicity chro·nic'i·ty (krŏ-nĭs'ĭ-tē) n.

SYNONYMS   chronic, confirmed, habitual, inveterate. These adjectives mean having long had a habit or a disease: a chronic complainer; a confirmed alcoholic; a habitual cheat; an inveterate smoker.

adjective

1. Of long duration: continuing, lingering, persistent, prolonged, protracted. See continue/stop/pause.
2. Familiar through repetition: accustomed, habitual, routine. See usual/unusual.
3. Subject to a disease or habit for a long time: confirmed, habitual, habituated, inveterate. See continue/stop/pause.

adj

Definition: incessant, never-ending
Antonyms: curable, eradicable, intermittent, occasional, temporary

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adj

Characterized by a long, slow course, as opposed to acute.

Applied to conditions that are long-lasting and are usually slow to develop. Compare acute.

Persisting for a long time; the period is undefined and varies with circumstances; usually more than one week. US National Center for Health Statistics defines it as a condition of 3 months duration or longer. Also has the sense of the disease showing little change or very slow progression over a long period.

• c. obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — is primarily a disease of the horse. It is a well-identified and common syndrome of chronic respiratory disease. Clinical signs include chronic cough, loud abnormal breath sounds and a double expiratory effort. The disease is a combination of chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis complicated by pulmonary emphysema. Called also heaves, broken wind.
• c. respiratory disease — a disease of chickens caused by infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. It is characterized by coughing, nasal discharge, respiratory rales, a long course and the complication of airsacculitis. There is a loss of egg production and wastage by culling of carcasses at the abattoir but mortality is low.

IN BRIEF: Going on for a long time or coming back again and again.

I was born with a chronic anxiety about the weather. — John Burroughs (1837-1921)

Tutor's tip: Something that is "chronic" is something that is persistent and of long standing, something that is "chronical" is something that pertains to a long-standing disease, while "chronicle" is a listing of events in a set order.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - kronisk, forfærdelig

Nederlands (Dutch)
chronisch, onverbeterlijk, vreselijk

Français (French)
adj. - (Méd) chronique, (fig) invétéré, chronique (une situation), permanent, (GB) nul (fam)

Deutsch (German)
adj. - chronisch, (ugs.) katastrophal

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - χρόνιος, (μτφ.) ανίατος, αδιόρθωτος, (Βρετ., καθομ.) απαίσιος

Italiano (Italian)
cronico

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - crônico

Русский (Russian)
хронический, постоянный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - crónico

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - kronisk, ständig, hemsk (vard.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
慢性的, 习惯性的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 慢性的, 習慣性的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 만성의, 상습적인

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 長期にわたる, 慢性の, 常習的な, いやな, ひどい
n. - 慢性病患者

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) مزمن, متأصل, عضال‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮ממושך, כרוני, רע, חמור‬

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