hemorrhage
UK: ˈhɛmərɪdʒ | US: ˈhɛmərɪdʒ
n. 1. A profuse discharge of blood, either internally or externally.
n. 2. A rapid and uncontrollable loss or depletion of resources (e.g., financial hemorrhage).
vi. 1. To bleed excessively.
vi. 2. To lose something (e.g., money, talent) rapidly and uncontrollably.
The word "hemorrhage" originates from Greek haimorrhagia, combining haima (blood) and -rrhagia (a bursting forth). The morpheme hemo- (blood) is widely used in medical terms (e.g., hemoglobin), while -rrhage denotes an abnormal or excessive flow. The term entered Middle English via Latin and Old French, retaining its vivid imagery of uncontrolled bleeding, later metaphorically extended to non-medical contexts.
The patient suffered a severe hemorrhage after the accident.
The company is hemorrhaging money due to poor management.
A brain hemorrhage can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
The team hemorrhaged talent after the scandal.
Efforts to stop the economic hemorrhage have so far failed.