Etymology
heart + attack. See heart. Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (to join, attach) (used in attaccare battaglia (to join battle)), from Frankish *stakka (stick).
Noun
heart attack (plural heart attacks)
- (cardiology) An acute myocardial infarction, sometimes fatal, caused by the sudden occurrence of coronary thrombosis, which obstructs the blood supply to the heart and leads to necrosis of heart muscle tissue.
- (figurative) A major fright.
- She'll have a heart attack when she sees that!
Credits
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