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Phlegm vs Catarrh - What's the difference?

phlegm | catarrh |

As nouns the difference between phlegm and catarrh

is that phlegm is (historical) one of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus while catarrh is (pathology) inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.

phlegm

English

(wikipedia phlegm)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (historical) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.
  • * 1993 , William Dalrymple, City of Djinns , HarperCollins 1993:
  • Each person's unique mixture of these substances determines his temperament: a predominance of blood gives a sanguine temperament; a predominance of phlegm makes one phlegmatic; yellow bile, bilious (or choleric); and black bile, melancholic.
  • Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.
  • * 2005 , "Endangered Species?" Hannah Beech, Time , 14 Nov 2005:
  • "Even some members of the new bourgeoisie indulge in conspicuously boorish behavior, like hawking phlegm onto the pavement or picking their noses at business meetings."
  • (historical, chemistry, alchemy) A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution.
  • Calmness of temperament, composure; also seen negatively, sluggishness, indifference.
  • * 1942 , "Warning to Sweden", Time , 5 Oct 1942:
  • But Swedish Nazis also talked of the necessity of saving Sweden from Bolshevism, and with the menacing Berlin radio gnawing in their ears many Swedes lost their Scandinavian phlegm .

    catarrh

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (pathology) Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
  • *
  • See also

    * cold * flu * grippe, grip * influenza * sinusitis