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Silicosis

/ˌsɪl.ɪˈkoʊ.sɪs/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #15000 frequency
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1 sense
As noun
  1. 1

    A lung disease caused by breathing in dust containing silica, typical among miners and stonecutters.

    "Long-term exposure to quartz dust at the quarry led to several workers developing silicosis."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'silicosis' originates from the Latin word 'silica', meaning 'flint' or 'silicon dioxide', combined with the Greek suffix '-osis', which denotes a medical condition. The term has evolved since its first use in the late 19th century to describe a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust.

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