"incomplete expansion of the lungs," 1836, medical Latin, from Greek ateles "imperfect, incomplete" (see atelo-) + ektosis "extention," from ek "out of, from" (see ex-) + teinein "to stretch," from PIE root *ten- "to stretch." Related: Atelectatic.
Ate
ate
-ate
atechnic
atechnical
atelectasis
atelier
atelo-
atemporal
Aten
*ater-