Definition

A painful burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid moving up into the esophagus.

Example

After eating spicy food, I often experience heartburn.

Conversation

I had the worst heartburn last night after dinner.

Oh no! What did you eat?

I had some spicy tacos, and I think they triggered it.

That makes sense; spicy food can really cause heartburn.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Heartburn is formed from "heart" (from Old English "heorte", meaning the organ that pumps blood) and "burn" (from Old English "byrnan", meaning to be on fire or to burn). The term describes a burning sensation in the chest, often associated with acid reflux, which feels as if it is burning the heart area.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'heart' as the area where you feel discomfort and 'burn' as the sensation of heat — heartburn is that burning feeling in your chest.

Visually Confused Words