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

During a biopsy, a small amount of tissue is cut away and examined under a microscope.5 In some cases, Fordyce spots can look similar to other skin conditions, including:534 Epidermoid cysts: These tiny, hard lumps can form underneath the skin anywhere on the body. —Carley Millhone, Health, 19 Oct. 2024

False alarms can lead to invasive biopsies that can be painful and cause bleeding, as well as stressful and unnecessary follow-up tests, some of which involve additional radiation exposure or dyes that can cause side effects and allergic reactions. —Liz Szabo, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024

Louisiana Teen Diagnosed with Rare Cancer in His Testicle: 'Something Wasn't Right' (Exclusive) The volleyball team captain was referred to Duke University Hospital for a biopsy in September 2021. —Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024

Advertisement In December 2023, doctors conducted a biopsy on the lump and diagnosed the actor with Stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 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