microtome

American  

[mahy-kruh-tohm] / ˈmaɪ krəˌtoʊm /

noun

1. an instrument for cutting very thin sections, as of organic tissue, for microscopic examination.

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microtome British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌtəʊm /

noun

1. an instrument used for cutting thin sections, esp of biological material, for microscopical examination

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Other Word Forms

• microtomist
  noun
• microtomic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of microtome

First recorded in 1855–60; micro- + -tome

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microtome

Embryonic tissue was too delicate to withstand pressure from the clasp of a microtome.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 9, 2022

King George III commissioned him to make an elaborate instrument for recording atmospheric pressure, and he pioneered the microtome, a device for cutting ultra-fine slivers of wood for microscopic analysis.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2017

Sections were cut on a Leica Ultracut E microtome with a Diatome diamond knife at a thickness setting of 50 nm, stained with uranyl acetate, and lead citrate.

From Nature ● Mar. 21, 2017

The pickled pieces will be sliced .005 millimetres thin with a microtome, stained for study under the microscope.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Fixed clamp, No. 128, represented in the figure of the large sliding microtome, serves to clamp the specimen in position and does not allow any further adjustment.

From Microscopes and Accessory Apparatus Catalogue No. 40 by Ernst Leitz

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