biopsy

bi-op-sy · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A medical procedure involving the removal of a small sample of tissue for examination, typically to detect disease.

  2. 2.

    To take a tissue sample from for examination.

Forms

plural: biopsies

Related words

See also: cancer, diagnosis, surgery
Synonyms: tissue sample

Etymology

From Greek bios ("life") + opsis ("sight, view"), coined in the late 19th century. The term literally means "viewing life" or "seeing living tissue."