Inhaler

/ɪnˈheɪlər/ noun

Definition

A small portable device that dispenses medicine in the form of a mist or powder that you breathe in, commonly used by asthma patients.

Etymology

From 'inhale' (from Latin 'in-' meaning 'in' plus 'halare' meaning 'to breathe'), with the suffix '-er' added to mean 'a device that does the action,' created in the 1800s.

Kelly Says

The modern portable inhaler is only about 60 years old—before that, asthma patients had to use large machines at home, making the invention of the metered-dose inhaler revolutionary for people with breathing problems.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.