to breathe with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, usually when you have a cold or breathing problem, or to make similar sounds.
From Old Norse 'hvoesa' (to hiss). The 'wh' developed through sound changes in Old English. The word has described difficult breathing sounds for over 500 years, especially in medical contexts.
Wheezing reveals the body's struggle—it's the sound of air being forced through narrowed airways. Doctors actually listen for different types of wheezes to diagnose asthma, bronchitis, or other conditions, making the sound itself medical information.
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