heartburn
UK /ˈhɑːtˌbɜːn/ · US /ˈhɑɹtˌbɝn/ noun
Forms heartburns heart-burn
- noun (pathology) A burning pain in the chest that is caused by stomach acid entering the gullet.
- noun (figuratively) annoyance, heartache, or similar feelings.
Synonyms
acid reflux gastric reflux gastroesophageal reflux pyrosis water brash cardialgia cardialgy
Etymology
From Middle English hertbryne, herte-bren (“lust", also "heartburn”, literally “heart burn”), equivalent to heart + burn. Compare also Middle English herte-brennyng (“anger, bitterness, heartburn”, literally “burning of/in the heart, heart-burning”). Compare also Ancient Greek καρδιαλγία (kardialgía), from καρδία (kardía, “heart”) + ἄλγος (álgos, “pain”). From being a burning sensation near the location of the heart in the chest.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An uneasy, burning sensation in the stomach, often attended with an inclination to vomit. It is sometimes idiopathic, but is often a symptom of often complaints.
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “heartburn”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details