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
1
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 notesIn 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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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."
Synonyms
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aeroembolism
Rhymes for bends
See all rhymes for bends →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.
