apheresis

[ uh-fer-uh-sis for 1; af-uh-ree-sis for 2 ]
/ əˈfɛr ə sɪs for 1; ˌæf əˈri sɪs for 2 /

noun

Also aphaeresis. the loss or omission of one or more letters or sounds at the beginning of a word, as in squire for esquire, or count for account.
Medicine/Medical. the withdrawal of whole blood from the body, separation of one or more components, and return by transfusion of remaining blood to the donor.

Origin of apheresis

1605–15; < Late Latin aphaeresis < Greek aphaíresis a taking away, equivalent to aphairé(în) to take away ( ap- ap-2 + haireîn to snatch) + -sis -sis

OTHER WORDS FROM apheresis

aph·e·ret·ic [af-uh-ret-ik] /ˌæf əˈrɛt ɪk/, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for apheresis

apheresis

aphaeresis

/ (əˈfɪərɪsɪs) /

noun

the omission of a letter or syllable at the beginning of a word
a method of collecting blood from donors that enables its different components, such as the platelets or plasma, to be separated out

Derived forms of apheresis

apheretic or aphaeretic (ˌæfəˈrɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for apheresis

C17: via Late Latin from Greek, from aphairein to remove

Medical definitions for apheresis

apheresis
[ ăf′ə-rēsĭs ]

n.

A procedure in which blood is drawn from a donor and separated into its components, some of which are retained, such as plasma or platelets, and the remainder returned by transfusion to the donor. hemapheresis