abscess — a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈæbses/
Example Sentences
- The cat's abscess was so big, it looked like it was smuggling a golf ball in its cheek.
- After the surgery, the abscess was completely removed.
- He ignored the tooth pain until it developed into a serious abscess that made him look like a chipmunk.
abscess
NOUN[/ˈæbses/]
a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus
The dentist drains a painful abscess from the patient's swollen jaw.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin abscessus, the past participle of abscedere, meaning 'to go away' or 'depart'. In medical terminology, it came to denote a collection of pus that has separated from healthy tissue, as if the infected matter had withdrawn from the body.
Breakdown
ab- (away) + cedere (to go) + -us (Latin nominative masculine singular suffix). The compound abscessus literally means 'gone away', referring to pus that has separated and collected in a distinct pocket within the body.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The cat's abscess was so big, it looked like it was smuggling a golf ball in its cheek.”
“After the surgery, the abscess was completely removed.”
“He ignored the tooth pain until it developed into a serious abscess that made him look like a chipmunk.”
“The doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the skin abscess.”
📚Related Words
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