coronary

coronary — adjective

IPA/ˈkɒrənri/
KK[kˈɔrənˌɛri]IPA/ˈkɔːrəneri/
  • coronarypositive
  • more coronarycomparative
  • most coronarysuperlative

1. relating to a pair of arteries that carry oxygen-filled blood toward the muscle

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to a pair of arteries that carry oxygen-filled blood toward the muscle of the heart, or to the medical problems and procedures connected with those arteries

Example

The scan showed a blockage in Haruto's left coronary artery.

attributive use: coronary artery

Patients with coronary heart disease are advised to follow a low-fat diet and exercise regularly.

collocation: coronary heart disease

Common collocations
  • coronary artery
  • coronary heart disease
  • coronary thrombosis
  • coronary bypass
  • coronary angioplasty
  • coronary event
  • coronary care unit
Synonyms
  • cardiac

    broader meaning — relates to the heart as a whole, not specifically to the coronary arteries

Grammar Patterns

coronary + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used attributively (before a noun). Common collocations include 'coronary artery', 'coronary heart disease', 'coronary thrombosis', and 'coronary bypass'. The adjective rarely appears alone after a linking verb.

Common Mistakes

He was diagnosed with coronary.
He was diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
'coronary' as an adjective must modify a noun; using it alone sounds incomplete.
She has a cardiac artery blockage.
She has a coronary artery blockage.
'cardiac' means 'relating to the heart generally'; use 'coronary' when referring specifically to the arteries that surround the heart.

coronary — noun

IPA/ˈkɒr.ən.ər.i/
KK[kˈɔrənˌɛri]IPA/ˈkɔːr.ə.ner.i/

Word family

  • coronary thrombosis
    nounC1
  • coronary artery
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three terms relate to the heart, but they are not interchangeable. 'Coronary' refers specifically to the arteries that encircle the heart and supply it with blood — you would say 'coronary artery disease', not 'cardiac artery disease'. 'Cardiac' is broader and describes anything connected to the heart as an organ: 'cardiac arrest', 'cardiac surgeon', 'cardiac muscle'. 'Heart' as an adjective is the everyday, non-technical equivalent: 'heart surgery', 'heart condition', 'heart rate'. Use 'coronary' when the focus is on the arteries and their blockages; use 'cardiac' for general medical references to the heart; use 'heart' in informal or lay contexts. For example, a doctor might say 'The patient had a cardiac arrest due to coronary artery disease' — each term carries a different level of specificity.

coronary ↗cardiac ↗heart ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • coronary artery disease
  • coronary heart disease
  • coronary care unit
  • coronary bypass surgery

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'coronary' comes from Latin 'coronarius', meaning 'of a crown' — from 'corona' (crown). The coronary arteries were given this name by early anatomists because they encircle the top of the heart like a crown or wreath. The adjective entered English in the early 1600s as a general term meaning 'resembling a crown', and by the mid-1700s it was being used specifically for the heart's blood vessels. The shortened noun form, used informally to mean 'heart attack', appeared in the early 1900s.