noun Uncommon

bends

behndz

Bends (noun) means informal name for decompression sickness, caused by surfacing too quickly from deep water. Example: “The diver was rushed to a hyperbaric chamber to treat the bends.”

noun

Informal name for decompression sickness, caused by surfacing too quickly from deep water.

"The diver was rushed to a hyperbaric chamber to treat the bends."

How to use bends

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe common name for decompression sickness in divers, caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the blood after surfacing too fast.

Common pairings

get the bends risk of the bends

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Fill the gap

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The diver was rushed to a hyperbaric chamber to treat the _____.

Etymology

So named because sufferers historically bent over in pain, a posture that also echoed a fashionable stooped walk of the era nicknamed "the Grecian bend."

Rhymes for bends

ends bonds funds Sands Wands blinds

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Frequently asked questions

What does “bends” mean?

The word “bends” means informal name for decompression sickness, caused by surfacing too quickly from deep water. In plain terms, the common name for decompression sickness in divers, caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the blood after surfacing too fast.

How do you pronounce “bends”?

“Bends” is pronounced behndz (/bɛndz/ in IPA).

How do you use “bends” in a sentence?

Here is “bends” used in a sentence: “The diver was rushed to a hyperbaric chamber to treat the bends.”

What part of speech is “bends”?

“Bends” is a noun.

Is “bends” a common word?

“Bends” is an uncommon word in modern English.