reflux

/ˌriˈflʌks/

/ˈrifləks/

Other forms: refluxes

Use the noun reflux to talk about a medical condition that gives you an acidic taste in your mouth and a burning feeling in your chest.

If a patient suffers from reflux, his stomach and esophagus aren't working quite right — they're allowing acid to flow backwards, which results in discomfort and nausea. There are various ailments that can be defined as reflux, including indigestion and heartburn, as well as conditions that affect babies who have trouble swallowing. Another kind of reflux is the tide's ebb, or outward flow. This is the oldest meaning of the word, which comes from the Latin fluxus, "a flowing."

Definitions of reflux

1. noun

   the outward flow of the tide
   synonyms: ebb

   type of:

   flow, flowing

   the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
2. noun

   an abnormal backward flow of body fluids
   types:

   esophageal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux, oesophageal reflux

   reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus

   hepatojugular reflux

   a venous reflux occurring in congestive heart failure

   ureterorenal reflux

   a backflow of urine from the ureter into the renal pelvis

   vesicoureteral reflux

   a backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureter

   type of:

   pathology

   any deviation from a healthy or normal condition