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Pap test
or pap test
[ pap test ]
noun
- a test for cancer of the cervix, consisting of the staining of cervical cells taken in a cervical or vaginal smear Pap smear, or pap smear for examination of exfoliated cells.
- a vaginal Pap smear used to evaluate estrogen levels.
- an examination of exfoliated cells in any body fluid, as sputum or urine, for cancer cells.
Pap test
/ pæp /
noun
- See cervical smearanother name for cervical smear
- a similar test for precancerous cells in other organs
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Word History and Origins
Origin of Pap test1
First recorded in 1955–60; named after George Papanicolaou (1883–1962), U.S. cytologist, born in Greece, who developed the staining method
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Word History and Origins
Origin of Pap test1
C20: named after George Papanicolaou (1883–1962), US anatomist, who devised it
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Example Sentences
That drop was due mostly to the increased use of the Pap test.
From The Daily Beast
The drop was due mostly to the increased use of the Pap test.
From The Daily Beast
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