Sneezing: meaning, definitions and examples

Biological Function

• Sneezing is your body’s way of clearing irritants like dust, pollen, or germs from your nose.
• The force of a sneeze can travel at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour!
• Each sneeze can release thousands of droplets into the air, which is why covering your mouth is important.

Cultural Practices

• In many cultures, people say 'Bless you!' after someone sneezes as a way to wish them good health.
• In some traditions, sneezing is believed to signal that someone is talking about you, or it could be seen as a sign of luck.

Medical Insights

• Chronic sneezing can be a symptom of allergies, colds, or infections.
• There’s a phenomenon called photic sneeze reflex where bright light can make people sneeze.

Language and Expression

• The sound of a sneeze can vary greatly around the world, with different cultures adopting unique expressions.
• In French, the onomatopoeia for a sneeze is 'atchoum,' while in Spanish it's 'achís.'

Fun Facts

• Some people can’t sneeze at all, a condition called 'sneeze phobia' or 'sneeze anxiety.'
• The longest recorded sneeze attack lasted for about 977 days, according to the Guinness World Records!

Positioned at #23,436, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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• 23433 indefinable
• 23434 briefest
• 23435 fixity
• 23436 sneezing
• 23437 bewitched
• 23438 abominations
• 23439 ominously
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