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epidural

American  
[ep-i-door-uhl, -dyoor-] / ˌɛp ɪˈdʊər əl, -ˈdjʊər- /

adjective

  1. Anatomy. situated on or outside the dura mater.


noun

  • epidurals
    plural
  1. Pharmacology. epidural anesthesia.

epidural British  
/ ˌɛpɪˈdjʊərəl /

adjective

  1. Also: extradural. upon or outside the dura mater

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. Also called: epidural anaesthesia.

    1. injection of anaesthetic into the space outside the dura mater enveloping the spinal cord

    2. anaesthesia induced by this method

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
epidural Scientific  
/ ĕp′ĭ-dr′əl /
  1. Located on or over the dura mater.


  1. An injection into the epidural space of the spine, as an epidural anesthetic.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of epidural

1880–85; < epi- + dur(a mater) + -al 1 ( 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.

See Examples For:

There was the bill for the OB-GYN who helped deliver my baby and the anesthesiologist who gave me my epidural.

From Slate ● Apr. 25, 2026

The epidural did not work properly and I still was able to feel the pain.

From Slate ● Jan. 11, 2026

The shortage arose after a major supplier stopped making epidural infusion bags, it is understood.

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2025

So when the time came, she opted for an epidural.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025

McVay has said that Stafford received an epidural injection a few weeks ago, but on Tuesday he declined to specify if he had received another.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2025

"In clinical practice, epidurals are given in carefully controlled doses because blocking sensory nerves completely can make labor much longer," notes Zhang.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 13, 2026

The city found through surveys that there were people who wanted epidurals and couldn’t get them, often because of the cost, Wada said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025

Some patients also benefit from medical technology like epidurals, and a minority benefit from surgeons, “which is what obstetricians are.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2023

Evidence suggests fewer epidurals might mean fewer births using instruments like forceps and ventouse vacuum suction, says NICE.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2023

But before her hotly anticipated next special comes out in 2018, several comics are turning diapers and epidurals into blunt, confessional comedy.

From New York Times ● Oct. 13, 2017

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