fistula
Americannoun
-
Pathology. a narrow passage or duct formed by disease or injury, as one leading from an abscess to a free surface, or from one cavity to another.
-
Surgery. an opening made into a hollow organ, as the bladder or eyeball, for drainage.
-
Veterinary Pathology. any of various suppurative inflammations, as in the withers of a horse fistulous withers, characterized by the formation of passages or sinuses through the tissues and to the surface of the skin.
-
Obsolete. a pipe, as a flute.
noun
-
pathol an abnormal opening between one hollow organ and another or between a hollow organ and the surface of the skin, caused by ulceration, congenital malformation, etc
-
obsolete any musical wind instrument; a pipe
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fistula
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “pipe, tube,” of uncertain origin
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.
Gill, from Alnwick, found out about the plight of Kenyan women after being contacted by an American Charity called Beyond Fistula which works with the hospital.
From BBC • Dec. 19, 2023
Every stage of the game gives players opportunities to key in their credit card information and donate real-world money to charities like the Fistula Foundation and Heifer International.
From Slate • Jun. 18, 2014
In partnership with Gynocare Fistula Center In Kenya, One by One provides free surgeries for women with fistulas, and aftercare to deal with the devastating social and emotional side effects.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2014
The Fistula Foundation has been underwriting corrective surgery in many countries, and the United States Agency for International Development is helping as well.
From New York Times • May 21, 2012
Fistula: a slender tube: specifically applied to the channel formed by the union of the two parts of proboscis in Lepidoptera.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
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.
