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colonoscopy

American  
[koh-luh-nos-kuh-pee] / ˌkoʊ ləˈnɒs kə pi /

noun

Medicine/Medical.
  1. visual inspection of the interior of the colon with a flexible, lighted tube inserted through the rectum.


colonoscopy Scientific  
/ kō′lə-nŏskə-pē /
  1. Inspection of the interior surface of the colon with a flexible endoscope that is equipped to obtain tissue samples and inserted through the rectum.


Other Word Forms

  • colonoscopic adjective
  • colonoscopically adverb

Etymology

Origin of colonoscopy

First recorded in 1900–05; colon 2 ( def. ) + -o- ( def. ) + -scopy ( def. )

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.

In his first term, he played down the severity of his Covid-19 symptoms and declined to disclose that he got a colonoscopy.

From The Wall Street Journal

They are intensely intimate, a bit gross and utterly compelling—like a colonoscopy that one cannot turn away from.

From The Wall Street Journal

"So I hope you're getting your check-ups. I hope you get your colonoscopies and breast exams and prostate exams, they will save your life."

From BBC

These are four endoscopy tests - upper endoscopy; lower endoscopy excluding colonoscopy; colonoscopy; and cystoscopy - and four radiology tests - CT scan; MRI scan; barium studies; and non-obstetric ultrasound.

From BBC

Move over, colonoscopies -- researchers writing in ACS Sensors report that they have created tiny microspheres filled with bacteria that can sense the presence of blood, a key sign of gastrointestinal disease.

From Science Daily