1. Plural of embolism; instances in which a blood clot, air bubble, or other material blocks a blood vessel.
Usage: medical term; plural form
2. Plural of embolism; the insertion of intercalary days or months into a calendar to harmonize it with the solar year.
Usage: archaic; historical; calendar/astronomy context

Examples

• The patient suffered multiple pulmonary embolies after surgery.
• Doctors detected several embolies in the patient's arteries.
• Ancient calendars required embolies to stay aligned with seasonal cycles.
• The stroke was caused by one of several embolies that had formed in her veins.
• Modern medicine can often dissolve dangerous embolies before they cause serious harm.