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vasectomy

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vas⋅ec⋅to⋅my

[va-sek-tuh-mee]
–noun, plural -mies. Surgery.
excision of the vas deferens, or of a portion of it: performed to effect sterility in men.

Origin:
1895–1900; vas (deferens) + -ectomy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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va·sec·to·my   (və-sěk'tə-mē, vā-zěk'-)   
n.   pl. va·sec·to·mies
Surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens, usually as a means of sterilization.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

vasectomy [(vuh-sek-tuh-mee, vay-zek-tuh-mee)]

A surgical procedure in which the ducts that carry sperm out of the testes are cut and tied off so that no sperm can pass. Vasectomy is a form of male sterilization and is used as a method of birth control. The procedure has no effect on a man's capacity to produce semen; the only difference is that his semen will no longer contain sperm.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

vasectomy 
1897, from Mod.L. vas (deferens) + Eng. -ectomy "a cutting."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: va·sec·to·my
Pronunciation: -t&-mE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -mies
: surgical divisionor resection of all or part of the vas deferens usually to induce sterility
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

vasectomy va·sec·to·my (və-sěk'tə-mē, vā-zěk'-)
n.
Surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens, usually as a means of sterilization. Also called deferentectomy, gonangiectomy.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
vasectomy   (və-sěk'tə-mē)  Pronunciation Key 
Surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens, resulting in sterility.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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