stridor

noun

stri·​dor ˈstrī-dər How to pronounce stridor (audio) -ˌdȯr How to pronounce stridor (audio)
1
: a harsh, shrill, or creaking noise
2
: a harsh vibrating sound heard during respiration in cases of obstruction of the air passages

Examples of stridor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Children are more likely to have respiratory symptoms such as stridor, wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. Sarah Hudgens, Health, 22 Sep. 2024 This is an important observation, because the causes of stridor are different from other types of wheezing. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 Apr. 2023 If Ian’s diagnosis of stridor and the surgery had been delayed, the mass could have led to the complete obstruction of the airway and sudden suffocation, or a leakage of esophageal contents, laden with bacteria from the mouth. W Roy Smythe, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2011 There was a marked stridor and retraction of the intercostal spaces. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2014 Other hallmarks of the condition are a harsh, grating sound when a patient breathes in—inspiratory stridor—and respiratory distress. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 May 2022 Other croup symptoms include a hoarse voice, throat pain and stridor—a creaking rattle when a child inhales. Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from stridere, stridēre

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stridor was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near stridor

Cite this Entry

“Stridor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stridor. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

stridor

noun
: a harsh vibrating sound heard during respiration in cases of obstruction of the air passages
laryngeal stridor
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!