diaphragm

C1 Topic:The Human Body

US /ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/ UK /ˈdaɪəfɹæm/ See IPA manual

Freq #19661

Meanings

1

noun
the sheet of muscle below the lungs that contracts and relaxes during breathing

A deep breath makes the diaphragm contract and move downward.
2

noun
a flexible contraceptive cup placed over the cervix

She asked the clinician how to fit and use a diaphragm correctly.
3

noun
a flexible membrane in a machine or speaker that responds to pressure or vibration

Sound is produced when the loudspeaker's diaphragm vibrates.
4

noun
an adjustable opening that controls how much light enters a camera or optical instrument

Closing the lens diaphragm reduced the amount of light reaching the sensor.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a flexible contraceptive... contraceptive diaphragm

3 noun · a flexible membrane in a... membrane

4 noun · an adjustable opening that... aperture iris

Word family

Derived forms diaphragmaticdiaphragmalhemidiaphragm

Related forms thorax abdomen respirationpessary

Common collocations

iris diaphragm Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English diafragma, from Ancient Greek diaphragma ("partition, barrier"), from dia- ("across") + phragma ("fence, barrier"), related to phrassein ("to fence in"). The anatomical, mechanical, optical, and contraceptive senses all preserve the idea of a separating membrane or partition.

Topics

The Human Body

External links

# diaphragm

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdaɪəfɹæm/
**Frequency rank:** 19661

## Meanings
1. the sheet of muscle below the lungs that contracts and relaxes during breathing
2. a flexible contraceptive cup placed over the cervix
3. a flexible membrane in a machine or speaker that responds to pressure or vibration
4. an adjustable opening that controls how much light enters a camera or optical instrument

## Examples
- A deep breath makes the diaphragm contract and move downward.
- She asked the clinician how to fit and use a diaphragm correctly.
- Sound is produced when the loudspeaker's diaphragm vibrates.
- Closing the lens diaphragm reduced the amount of light reaching the sensor.

## Synonyms
- membrane
- aperture
- iris

## Derived Forms
- diaphragmatic
- diaphragmal
- hemidiaphragm

## Related Forms
- thorax
- abdomen
- respiration
- pessary

## Etymology
From Middle English diafragma, from Ancient Greek diaphragma ("partition, barrier"), from dia- ("across") + phragma ("fence, barrier"), related to phrassein ("to fence in"). The anatomical, mechanical, optical, and contraceptive senses all preserve the idea of a separating membrane or partition.

## Topics
- The Human Body

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