curette

American  

[kyoo-ret] / kjʊˈrɛt /

Also curet

noun

1. a scoop-shaped surgical instrument for removing tissue from body cavities, as the uterus.

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verb (used with object)

curetted, curetting

1. to scrape with a curette.

curette British  

/ kjʊəˈrɛt /

noun

1. a surgical instrument for removing dead tissue, growths, etc, from the walls of certain body cavities

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verb

1. (tr) to scrape or clean with such an instrument

Etymology

Origin of curette

First recorded in 1745–55; from French, equivalent to cur(er) “to cleanse” + -ette feminine noun suffix; see origin at -ette, cure

Example Sentences

In this method, the dermatologist applies a local anesthetic and then scrapes away the soft, mushy tumor cells with a curette, an instrument with a sharp circular blade.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then the uterus itself is scraped with a dull-edged curette, a small spoon-shaped instrument, until all embryonic matter has been removed.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then commonly the entire ovum comes away with the gauze, or what remains of it is taken out with a curette.

From Essays In Pastoral Medicine by ?Malley, Austin

Callous ulcers are best removed by a curette, knife, or hot iron and then treated like a common wound.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.

The curette, or Volkmann's spoon, we show in Fig.

From Diseases of the Horse's Foot by Reeks, Harry Caulton