What does chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mean?
• CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (noun) The noun CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE has 1 sense: 1. a nonreversible lung disease that is a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis; usually patients have been heavy cigarette smokers Familiarity information: CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE used as a noun is very rare.