apheresis

[ uh-fer-uh-sis af-uh-ree-sis ]

noun

1. Also the loss or omission of one or more letters or sounds at the beginning of a word, as in squire for esquire, or count for account.
2. Medicine/Medical. the withdrawal of whole blood from the body, separation of one or more components, and return by transfusion of remaining blood to the donor.

apheresis

/ ˌæfəˈrɛtɪk; əˈfɪərɪsɪs /

noun

1. the omission of a letter or syllable at the beginning of a word
2. a method of collecting blood from donors that enables its different components, such as the platelets or plasma, to be separated out

Derived Forms

• apheretic, adjective

Other Words From

• aph·e·ret·ic [af-, uh, -, ret, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apheresis¹

1605–15; < Late Latin aphaeresis < Greek aphaíresis a taking away, equivalent to aphairé ( în ) to take away ( ap- ap- ² + haireîn to snatch) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of apheresis¹

C17: via Late Latin from Greek, from aphairein to remove