biopsy

[ bahy-op-see ]
See synonyms for biopsy on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural bi·op·sies.
  1. the removal for diagnostic study of a piece of tissue from a living body.

  2. a specimen obtained from a biopsy.

verb (used with object),bi·op·sied, bi·op·sy·ing.
  1. to remove (living tissue) for diagnostic evaluation.

Origin of biopsy

1
First recorded in 1890–95; bi-2 + -opsy1

Words Nearby biopsy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use biopsy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for biopsy

biopsy

/ (ˈbaɪɒpsɪ) /


nounplural -sies
  1. examination, esp under a microscope, of tissue from a living body to determine the cause or extent of a disease

  2. the sample taken for such an examination

Origin of biopsy

1
C20: from bio- + Greek opsis sight

Derived forms of biopsy

  • bioptic (baɪˈɒptɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for biopsy

biopsy

[ ŏp′sē ]


  1. A sample of tissue removed from a living body by a medical provider for diagnostic purposes.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.