biopsy
noun
bi·op·sy
ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 
plural biopsies
: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body
biopsy
transitive verb
Did you know?
Matter examined in a biopsy is always taken from a living organism. Most biopsies are done by using a needle to extract tissue or fluid, but some may instead require cutting, and others may amount to nothing more than swabbing the inside of the patient's cheek. Biopsies are best known as a means of detecting cancer, but a doctor may also take a biopsy of heart muscle to investigate suspected heart disease, for example, or perform a biopsy on a pregnant woman to test for disorders in the fetus.
Examples of biopsy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers also took a small biopsy of each participant's tongue, to analyze genes tied to taste buds.
—
Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Feb. 2025
During a bone marrow biopsy, your healthcare provider will use a hollow needle to take a sample of bone marrow, usually from inside your hip bone.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 24 Jan. 2025
The 85-year-old Vitale underwent surgery in June after a biopsy of the lymph node in his neck came back cancerous, marking his fourth cancer diagnosis.
—Jenna West and Andrew Marchand, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Similar to Milla’s story on the show, Ainscough was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma in 2008 following a biopsy of lumps from her left arm.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
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Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Feb. 2025
During a bone marrow biopsy, your healthcare provider will use a hollow needle to take a sample of bone marrow, usually from inside your hip bone.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 24 Jan. 2025
The 85-year-old Vitale underwent surgery in June after a biopsy of the lymph node in his neck came back cancerous, marking his fourth cancer diagnosis.
—Jenna West and Andrew Marchand, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Similar to Milla’s story on the show, Ainscough was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma in 2008 following a biopsy of lumps from her left arm.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
Cite this Entry
“Biopsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biopsy. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
biopsy
noun
bi·op·sy
ˈbī-ˌäp-sē
plural biopsies
: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body
Medical Definition
biopsy
1 of 2 noun
bi·op·sy
ˈbī-ˌäp-sē
plural biopsies
: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body
biopsy
2 of 2 transitive verb
biopsied; biopsying
: to perform a biopsy on
the intestinal polyps were removed and biopsied
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