Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A type of lung disease marked by permanent damage to tissues in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease includes chronic bronchitis, in which the bronchi (large air passages) are inflamed and scarred, and emphysema, in which the alveoli (tiny air sacs) are damaged.
Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition: 1  affluent(noun) an affluent person; a person who is financially well off. the so-called emerging affluents. 2  feeder, tributary, confluent, affluent(adj) a branch that flows into the main stream.
Literally means, nobility obliges. It's generally used to imply that with wealth, power, and prestige come social responsibility.It's mostly used to refer to the wealthy who are condescending and shower their money and privileges upon those who don't necessarily want it. Our landlord gave us a basket of fruit for Christmas, as his noblesse oblige.0 Words related to noblesse oblige. 1  noblessez-faire. 2  bar mitzvah. 3  capitalist excess. 4  condescend. 5  condescending. 6  dead peasant. 7  degradation. 8  intelligencia. 9  negligence. 10  negligencia. 11  nobleese. 12  nomenklatura. 13  obligation. 14  oblige. 15  oligopoly. 16  plutocracy. 17  responsibility. 18  specimen. 19  tax scam. 20  wealthy.