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lancets

0 antonyms and opposites of lancets, grouped by meaning.

Noun — Small, very sharp single-use blades or needles used to prick the skin, most often on a fingertip, to draw a drop of blood for testing.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Small, very sharp single-use blades or needles used to prick the skin, most often on a fingertip, to draw a drop of blood for testing.

“Diabetics get through boxes of lancets testing their blood sugar.”

blood-sampling needles finger-prick needles

2. noun

Small pointed surgical knives with two cutting edges, used for making incisions such as draining an abscess.

“The museum case held a set of Victorian lancets used for bloodletting.”

scalpels bistouries

How to use lancets

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

lancets and test strips safety lancets 33-gauge lancets dispose of used lancets

Neutral and medical; note The Lancet, the journal, is a separate proper noun.

Etymology

Plural of lancet, from Old French lancette, a diminutive of lance 'spear'.

Full origin of lancets →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a lancet and a needle?

A lancet has a short, sharply pointed blade designed to make a shallow prick and release a drop of blood at the surface. A hypodermic needle is a hollow tube for injecting or drawing fluid from deeper tissue or a vein.

Can you reuse a lancet?

You should not. Lancets are single-use: the tip blunts after one prick, which makes the next test more painful, and reuse raises the risk of infection. They belong in a sharps bin, not household waste.

What gauge of lancet should I use?

Gauge measures thickness, and a higher number means a thinner lancet, so 33-gauge is finer and more comfortable than 28-gauge. Thinner lancets draw a smaller drop, so match the gauge to how much blood your meter needs.

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.