curette

American  

[kyoo-ret] / kyʊˈrɛt /

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

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

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

By using a small and sharp curette, one is enabled to cleanse the average wound quickly and almost painlessly.

From Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 by Lacroix, John Victor

A probe is then passed into the ostium, and the anterior wall of the sinus is removed with a curette or rongeur forceps.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

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