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

Five weeks into treatment, a rash spread across my body like an acid burn, requiring a biopsy. —Katie Gutierrez, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024

Abnormal results may lead to a bone marrow biopsy or MRI scan. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2024

This test was conducted in a sedated live pig, with the scientist able to bend the endoscope into a full U-turn and even take a useable biopsy of the animal’s stomach wall tissue. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2024

Getting a false positive on a mammogram — especially if it's accompanied by a recommendation for follow-up visits or a biopsy — could discourage patients from seeking future screening, according to a new study. —Tina Reed, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary bi- entry 2 + -opsy (as in autopsy)

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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