emergency
nounUK /ɪˈmɜː(ɹ).dʒən.si/ · US /ɪˈmɝ.d͡ʒən.si/
Etymology Borrowed from Medieval Latin emergentia, from Latin emergens, present participle of emergo (“to emerge, arise, come forth”), equivalent to emergent + -cy or emerge + -ency. Doublet of emergence.
1
Sometimes A situation which poses an immediate risk and which requires urgent attention.
- Cardiac arrest is an emergency requiring medical attention.
- We also found that the only emergency egress from the tram was by smashing the front or rear windscreens, and that emergency lighting had failed when the tram overturned.2021 December 29, Dominique Louis, “Causal analysis: crashworthiness at Sandilands”, in RAIL, number 947, page 33:
2
The department of a hospital that treats emergencies.
- I've got a really bad disease It's got me begging on my hands and knees So take me to emergency Cause something seems to be missing2009, “Restless Heart Syndrome”, in 21st Century Breakdown, performed by Green Day:
3
A person brought in at short notice to replace a member of staff, a player in a sporting team, etc.
- November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk Van Gaal responded by replacing Adnan Januzaj with Carrick and, in fairness, the emergency centre-half did exceedingly well given that he has not played since May.
4
Archaic The quality of being emergent; sudden or unexpected appearance; an unforeseen occurrence.
5
Euphemistic A critical urge to urinate or defecate.
- Derived terms
48 terms
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- emerge, emergence, fire department, police