(pathology) A sometimes fatal condition resulting from the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and tissues, because of too rapid decompression, seen especially in deep-sea divers ascending rapidly from a dive. It is characterized by severe pains in the joints and chest, skin irritation, cramps, nausea, and paralysis.

(aviation, medicine) A situation where the ambient air pressure suddenly drops faster than the air in the lungs can escape, creating a risk of barotrauma to the lung tissue.

plural of decompression bomb

(computing) A usually malicous file with a very high compression ratio, thus expected to consume a large amount of memory and disk space when decompressed.

(medicine) During childbirth, a technique in which the abdomen is surrounded by a chamber and has the pressure decreased intermittently, to assist the uterus in its task.

plural of abdominal decompression