defibrillate

[ dee-fahy-bruh-leyt, -fib-ruh- ]

verb (used with object)

, Medicine/Medical.

, de·fi·bril·lat·ed, de·fi·bril·lat·ing.

1. to arrest the fibrillation of (heart muscle) by applying electric shock across the chest, thus depolarizing the heart cells and allowing normal rhythm to return.

Other Words From

• de·fibril·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defibrillate¹

1930–35; de- + fibrillate, back formation from fibrillation