tourniquet
Americannoun
-
Medicine/Medical, Surgery. any device for arresting bleeding by forcibly compressing a blood vessel, as a bandage tightened by twisting.
-
a device for pulling the parts of a wooden piece of furniture together, consisting of a pair of twisted cords passed around the parts.
noun
Etymology
Origin of tourniquet
1685–95; < French, derivative of tourner to turn
Explanation
A tourniquet is a device used to control the flow of blood temporarily. If you cut your knee really badly, the doctor might put a tourniquet on your thigh before operating — to control the blood flow to your knee. A tourniquet is usually used for two purposes in medicine. In surgery, a tourniquet is used to stop the flow of blood to a limb while it is being operated on. In an emergency, a tourniquet is used to control blood loss. By compressing around the veins that bring blood to a limb, a tourniquet stops or slows the flow of blood temporarily.
Vocabulary lists containing tourniquet
The Things They Carried
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Refugee
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Enrique's Journey
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One, a pediatric ER doctor, wrapped his arm in a makeshift tourniquet and stuffed the wound to staunch the bleeding while others called for help.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
"Officers applied a tourniquet and summoned emergency medical personnel," before they were taken to hospital, the statement said, adding that "their conditions are unknown".
From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026
Jeff Bova, who worked with the production’s transportation department, placed a tourniquet on Sonnier’s leg.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025
A passerby used a belt as a tourniquet to stop him from losing too much blood, saving his life.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
Next, she tied a tourniquet on his arm, picked up a needle, swiped his inner elbow with alcohol, and started to draw blood.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
