consumptive

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kənˈsʌmptɪv/ UK /kənˈsʌmptɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #69996

Meanings

1

adj
affected by or characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis

The physician recognized the feverish, consumptive appearance described in the old account.
2

noun
dated: a person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis

The novel describes him, in the language of its period, as a consumptive.
3

adj
using up a resource, especially water, so that it is not immediately returned

Irrigated farming is the region's largest consumptive use of water.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · affected by or... tubercular tuberculous

2 noun · dated: a person suffering... tuberculosis patient

3 adj · using up a resource,... resource-consuming

Opposites

nonconsumptive

Word family

Derived forms consumptivelyconsumptivenessnonconsumptivephotoconsumptiveunconsumptive

Related forms consumption tuberculosis consume

Etymology

From Middle English consumptive, ultimately from Latin consumptus, the past participle of consumere ('to use up'), + -ive. The medical senses come from consumption, the historical name for tuberculosis, whose wasting effects seemed to consume the body.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# consumptive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈsʌmptɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈsʌmptɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 69996

## Meanings
1. affected by or characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis
2. dated: a person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis
3. using up a resource, especially water, so that it is not immediately returned

## Examples
- The physician recognized the feverish, consumptive appearance described in the old account.
- The novel describes him, in the language of its period, as a consumptive.
- Irrigated farming is the region's largest consumptive use of water.

## Synonyms
- tubercular
- tuberculous
- resource-consuming

## Antonyms
- nonconsumptive

## Derived Forms
- consumptively
- consumptiveness
- nonconsumptive
- photoconsumptive
- unconsumptive

## Related Forms
- consumption
- tuberculosis
- consume

## Etymology
From Middle English consumptive, ultimately from Latin consumptus, the past participle of consumere ('to use up'), + -ive. The medical senses come from consumption, the historical name for tuberculosis, whose wasting effects seemed to consume the body.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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