Haemorrhage

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Haemorrhage

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

HEM-uh-rij  /ˈhɛm(ə)rɪdʒ/

Definition

As a noun: an escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel; a severe loss of blood; an uncontrolled, damaging outflow of resources, people, or value. As a verb: to bleed heavily; to lose resources, people, or value in an uncontrolled and damaging way.

Plain meaning

A haemorrhage is serious, uncontrolled bleeding from a blood vessel. Extended, it describes any uncontrolled loss — haemorrhaging money, haemorrhaging talent, haemorrhaging support.

Register

Neutral in medical contexts. The figurative use — haemorrhaging support, haemorrhaging talent — is formal to journalistic. It is a strong metaphor that implies severity and urgency; using haemorrhage rather than losing implies that the loss is damaging and uncontrolled.