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enucleation

American  
[ih-noo-klee-ey-shuhn, -nyoo-] / ɪˌnu kliˈeɪ ʃən, -ˌnyu- /

noun

  1. Biology. removal or elimination of the nucleus of a cell.

    Immature oocytes were obtained from hormone-stimulated goats and matured for 22 hours before enucleation.

  2. Surgery. removal of an enclosed mass or body, such as a cyst, eyeball, or tumor, while leaving it whole.

    Enucleation of the cyst, along with removal of the tooth, is the treatment of choice.

    In some cases the surgeon may have to remove the eye, a procedure called enucleation.


Etymology

Origin of enucleation

First recorded in 1610–20, for an earlier sense; equivalent to enucleat(e) ( def. ) + -ion ( 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.

Some of the older survivors had facial abnormalities from radiation or enucleation.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

Ritchie: On the day we made Dolly, I would have done the enucleation, and she would have done the fusion.

From Nature • Jun. 28, 2016

Dr. Shields didn't feel enucleation was not the route to go.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 3, 2011

Lovort describes an enucleation of the eye in the second month of pregnancy.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

But it may become suddenly worse, or go on to complete blindness with pain, demanding enucleation, after some temporary perturbation, as the performance of a glaucoma operation.

From Glaucoma A Symposium Presented at a Meeting of the Chicago Ophthalmological Society, November 17, 1913 by Nance, Willis O.

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