palpate

¹

[pal-peyt]

verb (used with object)

palpated, palpating 

1. to examine by touch, especially for the purpose of diagnosing disease or illness.

palpate

²

[pal-peyt]

adjective

Zoology.

1. having a palpus or palpi. palpus.

palpate

¹

/ ˈpælpeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) med to examine (an area of the body) by the sense of touch and pressure

palpate

²

/ ˈpælpeɪt /

adjective

1. zoology of, relating to, or possessing a palp or palps

Other Word Forms

• palpation noun
• palpatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palpate¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Latin palpātus, past participle of palpāre “to stroke, touch”; palpus, -ate ¹

Origin of palpate²

First recorded in 1855–60; palp(us) + -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of palpate¹

C19: from Latin palpāre to stroke

Example Sentences

For centuries, doctors have used their hands as essential diagnostic tools -- exploring joints and palpating abdomens to assess a patient's health.

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As he writes: “It wasn’t just people nervously palpating their glands every 10 minutes.”

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A video features a couple of Kardashian-Jenners palpating a wall illuminated by blinking neon tube lights.

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He was gently palpating my foot to see what points made me yelp, while introducing the topic of gratitude into the conversation.

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She palpated the lymph nodes under his neck and arms, down his torso, and checked his scars for healing, while the three of us waited for the scan images to appear on her computer.

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