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Meaning & use

incisions

noun·Advanced

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UK/ɪnˈsɪʒənz/
US/ɪnˈsɪʒənz/

“incisions” is a form of “incision”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meaning

  1. nounplural

    Cuts made into the skin or into a surface, especially by a doctor during surgery.

    Grammar: This is the plural form of 'incision'. Use it when talking about more than one cut, e.g. 'The surgeon made two incisions.'

    Patterns

    • make incisions
    • small incisions
    • incisions in something

    The surgeon made several small incisions in the patient's abdomen.

    These incisions will heal in about a week if you keep them clean.

    The doctor used a laser to make precise incisions around the eye.

Word forms

singularincision

Common combinations

make an incision
The surgeon made a small incision just below the knee.
small incision
The operation requires only a small incision.
deep incision
The knife left a deep incision in the wood.
surgical incision
The surgical incision was closed with stitches.

Synonyms and how they differ

cut
A general word for any opening made with something sharp; 'incision' is more formal and is used mainly for medical or technical cuts.
slash
A long, deep cut made with a violent movement; an incision is usually deliberate and precise, often in surgery.
gash
A rough, deep cut, often accidental; an incision is typically clean and made on purpose.

Word family

incise verb
To cut into something, especially as part of a medical procedure.
incised adjective
Having a cut or cuts, often used to describe a design cut into a surface.
incision noun
A single cut, especially a surgical one.

Commonly confused: incisions or excision? incisions or scission?

incisions vs excision

Excision means removing something by cutting, while an incision is just the cut itself.

incisions vs scission

Scission is a rare word for splitting or division, not a physical cut made in surgery.

Practice

The surgeon made two small _______ in the patient's knee.

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