chronic
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++chron·ic /ˈkrɒnɪk $ ˈkrɑː-/ ●●○ adjective 1 MILONG TIMEa chronic disease or illness is one that continues for a long time and cannot be cured 〔疾病〕慢性的，长期的 → acute chronic arthritis 慢性关节炎 chronic asthma 慢性哮喘 chronic heart disease 慢性心脏病2 SERIOUS SITUATIONa chronic problem is one that continues for a long time and cannot easily be solved 〔问题〕长期的 chronic unemployment 长期的失业问题 There is a chronic shortage of teachers. 长期存在师资短缺的问题。3 chronic alcoholic/gambler etc LONG TIMEsomeone who has behaved in a particular way for a long time and cannot stop 长期酗酒/沉迷赌博等的人 He was a chronic alcoholic and unable to hold down a job. 他长期酗酒，任何工作都做不久。 a chronic smoker 老烟民4 BAD British English informal extremely bad 恶劣的；糟透的 The food was absolutely chronic! 这食物实在糟透了！ —chronically /-kli/ adverb patients who are chronically ill 患慢性病的病人 The service is chronically underfunded. 这个服务机构长期资金不足。
Examples from the Corpus
chronic• He suffers from chronic asthma.• No data exist for outcome of the untreated chronic condition followed for more than five years.• the chronic decay of the inner city areas• We need to take steps to counter the chronic decline in our export market.• In the chronic disease eggs are present and L3 can be identified following faecal culture.• Steen suffers from chronic high blood pressure.• Older people can quickly become dispirited and depressed by chronic illness.• Her injuries have left her with chronic migraine headaches, seizures, insomnia, nausea and short-term memory loss.• Some of these patients benefit from referral to a chronic pain center.• It brought to light chronic problems with staff and aging equipment.• China has a chronic shortage of capital, so it must encourage saving.• chronic unemployment• In women, chronic use of alcohol reduces vaginal response, and it can cause irregular menstruation and induce premature menopause.• California is trying to cope with chronic water shortages.Origin chronic (1400-1500) French chronique, from Greek chronikos “of time”, from chronos; CHRON-chron·ic adjectiveChineseSyllable
continues or chronic illness Corpus disease that is one a
chronic
chron‧ic /ˈkrɒnɪk $ ˈkrɑː-/
adjective
chronic arthritis
chronic asthma
chronic heart disease
2. a chronic problem is one that continues for a long time and cannot easily be solved:
chronic unemployment
There is a chronic shortage of teachers.
3. chronic alcoholic/gambler etc someone who has behaved in a particular way for a long time and cannot stop:
He was a chronic alcoholic and unable to hold down a job.
a chronic smoker
4. British English informal extremely bad:
The food was absolutely chronic!
—chronically /-kli/ adverb:
patients who are chronically ill
The service is chronically underfunded.
chron‧ic /ˈkrɒnɪk $ ˈkrɑː-/
adjective Date: 1400-1500
Language: French
Origin: chronique, from Greek chronikos 'of time', from chronos; CHRON-
1. a chronic disease or illness is one that continues for a long time and cannot be cured ⇨ acute:Language: French
Origin: chronique, from Greek chronikos 'of time', from chronos; CHRON-
2. a chronic problem is one that continues for a long time and cannot easily be solved:
3. chronic alcoholic/gambler etc someone who has behaved in a particular way for a long time and cannot stop:
4. British English informal extremely bad:
—chronically /-kli/ adverb: