CHRONIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does chronic mean? 

• CHRONIC (adjective)
  The adjective CHRONIC has 3 senses:

1. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

2. of long duration

3. habitual

  Familiarity information: CHRONIC used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHRONIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

Context example:

a chronic invalid

Similar:

degenerative ((of illness) marked by gradual deterioration of organs and cells along with loss of function)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

Antonym:

acute (having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of long duration

Synonyms:

chronic; continuing

Context example:

chronic money problems

Similar:

long (primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Habitual

Synonyms:

chronic; inveterate

Context example:

a chronic smoker

Similar:

usual (occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure)

 Context examples 

It may be primary, due to clonal plasma cell proliferations; secondary, due to long standing infections, chronic inflammatory disorders, or malignancies; or familial.

(Amyloidosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Consequently, an overall reduction in chronic inflammation and autoimmune reactions are achieved.

(Amcinonide, NCI Thesaurus)

It may present with an acute onset or follow a chronic course, leading to cirrhosis.

(Alcoholic Liver Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of therapy that uses dogs or other pets to improve the physical and mental health of patients with certain acute or chronic diseases.

(Animal-assisted therapy, NCI Dictionary)

An autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by inflammation in the vertebral joints of the spine and sacroiliac joints.

(Ankylosing Spondylitis, NCI Thesaurus)

Medicines cure infectious diseases, prevent problems from chronic diseases, and ease pain.

(Medication Errors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Any substance used in the treatment of acute or chronic hypertension regardless of pharmacological mechanism.

(Antihypertensive Agent, NCI Thesaurus)

A chronic lung disorder characterized by deposition of coal dust in the lung parenchyma leading to the formation of black nodules and emphysema.

(Anthracosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Atrophy of the cerebral cortex and/or cerebellum due to chronic ethanol consumption.

(Alcoholic Brain Atrophy, NCI Thesaurus)

Also called chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, idiopathic myelofibrosis, myelosclerosis with myeloid metaplasia, and primary myelofibrosis.

(Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, NCI Dictionary)