tourniquet

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemedical

   A band or strap tied tightly around an arm or leg to squeeze the blood vessels and slow severe bleeding.

   Grammar: Takes 'a' or 'the': apply a tourniquet.

   Patterns

   • apply a tourniquet
   • a tourniquet on something

   The medic tied a tourniquet above the wound to slow the bleeding.

   Hikers carry a tourniquet in the first aid kit for emergencies.

   A tourniquet should be used only when pressure on the wound is not enough.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   Any device or measure that sharply restricts the flow of something, used figuratively.

   Grammar: Used figuratively with 'on' or 'applied': a tourniquet on spending.

   Patterns

   • a tourniquet on something

   The government applied a tourniquet to the city's spending.

   Critics said the new rule was a tourniquet on free speech.

   The bank's decision acted as a tourniquet on lending.

Word forms

Common combinations

apply a tourniquet

The paramedic applied a tourniquet to the injured leg.

tighten a tourniquet

He tightened the tourniquet until the bleeding slowed.

improvised tourniquet

She made an improvised tourniquet from a belt.

release the tourniquet

Only a doctor should release the tourniquet.

tourniquet above the wound

Place the tourniquet above the wound, not on it.

Synonyms and how they differ

constricting band

This is a plain description of the band, whereas tourniquet implies emergency use to stop bleeding.

pressure bandage

This presses directly on the wound and does not squeeze the whole limb, as a tourniquet does.

ligature

This is a more technical word for a tie or cord, used for tying blood vessels in surgery.

Word family

tourniquets noun

more than one such band

torniquet noun

a rare spelling variation

Commonly confused: tourniquet or tourniquette? tourniquet or tourist?

Practice

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