Asphyxia

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Asphyxia \As*phyx"i*a\, Asphyxy \As*phyx"y\, n. [NL. asphyxia,
     fr. Gr. ?; 'a priv. + ? to throb, beat.] (Med.)
     Apparent death, or suspended animation; the condition which
     results from interruption of respiration, as in suffocation
     or drowning, or the inhalation of poisonous or irrespirable
     gases.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  asphyxia
       n : a condition in which insufficient or no oxygen and carbon
           dioxide are exchanged on a ventilatory basis; caused by
           choking or drowning or electric shock or poison gas