noun
Heimlich
Heimlich (noun) means Short for the Heimlich maneuver, an emergency first-aid technique that uses abdominal thrusts to dislodge an object blocking someone's airway. Example: “She performed the Heimlich on her son after he started choking on a grape.”
noun
1
Short for the Heimlich maneuver, an emergency first-aid technique that uses abdominal thrusts to dislodge an object blocking someone's airway.
"She performed the Heimlich on her son after he started choking on a grape."
verb
1
To perform the Heimlich maneuver on someone who is choking.
"A stranger rushed over and heimliched the choking diner."
How to use Heimlich
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe choking first-aid technique of abdominal thrusts, named after its inventor — also used as a verb, "to heimlich someone."
Common pairings
perform the Heimlich
Heimlich maneuver
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Heimlich.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Heimlichs
- Third person singular
- Heimlichs
- Past tense
- Heimliched
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She performed the _____ on her son after he started choking on a grape.
Etymology
Named after American physician Henry Heimlich, who devised the technique in the 1970s.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Heimlich” mean?
The word “Heimlich” means short for the Heimlich maneuver, an emergency first-aid technique that uses abdominal thrusts to dislodge an object blocking someone's airway. In plain terms, the choking first-aid technique of abdominal thrusts, named after its inventor — also used as a verb, "to heimlich someone.".
How do you use “Heimlich” in a sentence?
Here is “Heimlich” used in a sentence: “She performed the Heimlich on her son after he started choking on a grape.”
What part of speech is “Heimlich”?
Depending on how it is used, “Heimlich” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Heimlich” come from?
The word “Heimlich” dates back to around 1970. Named after American physician Henry Heimlich, who devised the technique in the 1970s.
How many meanings does “Heimlich” have?
“Heimlich” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short for the Heimlich maneuver, an emergency first-aid technique that uses abdominal thrusts to dislodge an object blocking someone's airway.
