When someone's breathing is described as stertorous, it means their breathing is loud and labored, similar to the sound of heavy snoring.
The word stertorous comes from the Latin stertor, meaning "snoring." Since the early 19th century, stertorous has been used to describe a specific type of heavy, labored breathing. For example, the deep, strained breathing that often follows an intense workout can be described as stertorous. This term is also commonly used in medical contexts to indicate when someone is having trouble breathing smoothly, which may signal potential respiratory issues.