paracentesis

[ par-uh-sen-tee-sis ]
/ ˌpær ə sɛnˈti sɪs /

noun, plural par·a·cen·te·ses [par-uh-sen-tee-seez] /ˌpær ə sɛnˈti siz/. Surgery.

puncture of the wall of a cavity to drain off fluid.
Also called tapping.

Origin of paracentesis

1590–1600; < Latin paracentēsis perforation, tapping < Greek parakéntēsis, equivalent to parakentē-, variant stem of parakenteîn to prick beside ( para- para-1 + kenteîn to prick, pierce) + -sis -sis

Words nearby paracentesis

parabulia, paracasein, paracel islands, paracelsus, paracenesthesia, paracentesis, paracentral fissure, paracervical, paracervix, paracetaldehyde, paracetamol

British Dictionary definitions for para-centesis

paracentesis
/ (ˌpærəsɛnˈtiːsɪs) /

noun

med the surgical puncture of a body cavity in order to draw off excess fluid

Medical definitions for para-centesis

paracentesis
[ păr′ə-sĕn-tē′sĭs ]

n.

Surgical puncture or tapping of a fluid-filled body cavity, especially the abdomen, with a hollow needle or trochar to withdraw fluid.

Other words from paracentesis

par′a•cen•tet′ic (-tĕt′ĭk) adj.