noun
Uncommon
biopsy
BEYE-ahp-see
Biopsy (noun) means a medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to be examined for disease. Example: “The doctor ordered a biopsy to check for cancer.”
noun
1
A medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to be examined for disease.
"The doctor ordered a biopsy to check for cancer."
verb
1
To take a tissue sample for diagnostic examination.
"They biopsied the lump but it turned out to be non-cancerous."
"They biopsied the lump to rule out anything serious."
How to use biopsy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRemoving a small piece of body tissue so doctors can examine it under a microscope.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
skin biopsy
liver biopsy
biopsy result
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Word forms
- Plural
- biopsies
- Third person singular
- biopsies
- Past tense
- biopsied
Fill the gap
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The doctor ordered a _____ to check for cancer.
Etymology
From Greek bios ("life") and opsis ("sight, view") — literally "viewing the living."
Rhymes for biopsy
See all rhymes for biopsy →Frequently asked questions
What does “biopsy” mean?
The word “biopsy” means a medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to be examined for disease. In plain terms, removing a small piece of body tissue so doctors can examine it under a microscope.
How do you pronounce “biopsy”?
“Biopsy” is pronounced BEYE-ahp-see (/ˈbaɪɑpsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “biopsy” in a sentence?
Here is “biopsy” used in a sentence: “The doctor ordered a biopsy to check for cancer.”
What part of speech is “biopsy”?
Depending on how it is used, “biopsy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “biopsy” come from?
The word “biopsy” comes from Greek. From Greek bios ("life") and opsis ("sight, view") — literally "viewing the living.".
Is “biopsy” a common word?
“Biopsy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “biopsy” have?
“Biopsy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to be examined for disease.
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