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bloodletting

 - 5 dictionary results

blood⋅let⋅ting

  [bluhd-let-ing]
Use bloodletting in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act or practice of letting blood by opening a vein; phlebotomy.
2. bloodshed or slaughter.
3. bloodbath.
4. Informal. severe cutbacks or reduction in personnel, appropriations, etc.: The company went through a period of bloodletting in the 1970s.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME blod letunge. See blood, let 1 , -ing 1

Related forms:
bloodletter, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bloodletting
blood·let·ting   (blŭd'lět'ĭng)   
n.  

  1. Bloodshed.

  2. The removal of blood, usually from a vein, as a therapeutic measure.

  3. The laying off of personnel or the elimination of resources.

blood'let'ter n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

Bloodletting

A period of severe investing losses.

Investopedia Commentary

The term comes from a medieval medical practice that involved bleeding out a patient. It was believed that afflictions resided in the blood and could be eliminated by draining away a large quantity. Thankfully, this practice has been abandoned.

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Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: blood·let·ting
Pronunciation: -"let-i[ng]
Function: noun
: PHLEBOTOMY
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

bloodletting blood·let·ting (blŭd'lět'ĭng)
n.
The theropeutic removal of blood, usually from a vein.

blood'let'ter n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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