air embolism n 1: obstruction of the circulatory system caused by an air bubble as, e.g., accidentally during surgery or hypodermic injection or as a complication from scuba diving [syn: {aeroembolism}, {gas embolism}] 2: pain resulting from rapid change in pressure [syn: {decompression sickness}, {aeroembolism}, {gas embolism}, {caisson disease}, {bends}]