Origin: Latin suffix -ary
Coronary has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery by a blood clot (thrombus)
"The sudden chest pain was caused by a coronary blockage due to a blood clot forming in the artery."
Any of the coronary vessels; a coronary artery or coronary vein.
"The surgeon performed an emergency bypass to repair the blocked coronary arteries."
In plain English: A coronary is an artery that supplies blood to your heart muscle.
"The doctor warned him that his bad diet could lead to coronary disease."
surrounding like a crown (especially of the blood vessels surrounding the heart)
"coronary arteries"
Pertaining to a crown or garland.
"The poet placed a fresh laurel wreath, symbolizing honor and victory like a coronation, upon the winner's head as a coronary tribute to his triumph."
In plain English: Coronary describes anything related to the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood directly to your heart muscle.
"The doctor said his coronary artery was blocked due to years of smoking."
Usage: Use this adjective exclusively in medical contexts to describe blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood directly to the heart muscle, such as in "coronary bypass surgery." Do not use it for general descriptions of crowns or rings, which require different vocabulary like "crown-like" or specific terms from heraldry.
The word coronary comes from the Latin corona, meaning crown. It entered English to describe blood vessels that form a ring-like structure around the heart like a crown.