noun
biopsy
BEYE-ahp-see
noun
1
A medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to be examined for disease.
"The doctor ordered a biopsy to check for cancer."
verb
1
To take a tissue sample for diagnostic examination.
"They biopsied the lump to rule out anything serious."
How to Use Biopsy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRemoving a small piece of body tissue so doctors can examine it under a microscope.
Common pairings
skin biopsy
liver biopsy
biopsy result
Word Forms
biopsied past tense, biopsies plural, biopsies singular
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The doctor ordered a _____ to check for cancer.
Etymology
From Greek bios ("life") and opsis ("sight, view") — literally "viewing the living."