diaphragm: [17] The etymological notion underlying diaphragm is of a sort of ‘fence’ or ‘partition’ within the body. It comes via late Latin diaphragma from Greek diáphragma. This in turn was a derivative of diaphrássein ‘divide off, barricade’, a compound verb formed from the intensive prefix dia- and phrássein ‘fence in, enclose’. Originally in Greek diáphragma was applied to other bodily partitions than that between the thorax and the abdomen – to the septum which divides the two nostrils, for instance.
diaphragm (n.)
late 14c., from Late Latin diaphragma, from Greek diaphragma "partition, barrier, muscle which divides the thorax from the abdomen," from diaphrassein "to barricade," from dia- "across" (see dia-) + phrassein "to fence or hedge in." The native word is midriff. Meaning "contraceptive cap" is from 1933.
双语例句
1. The diaphragm vibrates , thus setting the air around it in motion.
膜片振动,这使得周围的空气也动荡起来.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
2. The diaphragm draws air into the lungs.
横膈膜向下运动让空气进入肺部.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. A portion of the cardia is demonstrated above the diaphragm.
膈上发现部分贲门.
来自辞典例句
4. Gastric distention may also reduce lung volume by elevating the diaphragm.
胃胀使膈升高也会减少肺的容积.
来自辞典例句
5. It was a terylene diaphragm coated with a layer of aluminum.