Meaning & use

centesis

noun·Advanced

A surgical puncture made into a body cavity to withdraw fluid, usually named with a prefix such as amniocentesis.

See it in a sentence

The doctor explained that a centesis would relieve pressure from the fluid buildup.

Thoracentesis is a type of centesis performed to drain fluid from around the lungs.

A note on using this word

Centesis rarely stands alone in everyday speech; it usually appears as a combining suffix in medical terms.

Words with a similar meaning

punctureaspiration

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “centesis”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.