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magnetic resonance imaging

American  

noun

  1. MRI.


magnetic resonance imaging British  

noun

  1.  MRI.  a noninvasive medical diagnostic technique in which the absorption and transmission of high-frequency radio waves are analysed as they irradiate the hydrogen atoms in water molecules and other tissue components placed in a strong magnetic field. This computerized analysis provides a powerful aid to the diagnosis and treatment planning of many diseases, including cancer

"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

magnetic resonance imaging Scientific  
  1. See MRI


magnetic resonance imaging Cultural  
  1. A technique for forming detailed images of internal organs and tissue. It works by putting the patient inside a magnet, then using radio waves to locate atoms in the tissue. Final production of the image is done by a computer. (Compare x-ray and ultrasound.)


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MRI images are the most detailed that can be obtained.

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.

Bjorn, who works at a hospital as a magnetic resonance imaging technologist, agreed.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2025

Brain-wide association studies, which use magnetic resonance imaging to identify relationships between brain structure or function and human behavior or health, have faced criticism for producing results that often cannot be replicated by other researchers.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2024

In a seemingly contradictory finding, research that used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to study brain responses to disgusting humor did not find a pattern of brain activity that was distinct from plain disgust.

From Salon • Oct. 6, 2024

Instead of a boxy belt-fed device using a stack of gray trays, the futuristic-looking baggage and personal belongings inspection system looks like a scaled-down starship medical magnetic resonance imaging machine.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

During the experiment, the researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure the activity in the amygdala of the 27 listeners as well as the performer in real time.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024