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palpate

1
[ pal-peyt ]
/ ˈpæl peɪt /
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See synonyms for: palpate / palpation on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), pal·pat·ed, pal·pat·ing.
to examine by touch, especially for the purpose of diagnosing disease or illness.
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Origin of palpate

1
First recorded in 1840–50; from Latin palpātus, past participle of palpāre “to stroke, touch”; see palpus, -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM palpate

pal·pa·tion [pal-pey-shuhn] /ˌpælˈpeɪ ʃən/ nounpal·pa·to·ry [pal-puh-tawr-ee], /ˈpæl pəˌtɔr i/, adjective

Other definitions for palpate (2 of 2)

palpate2
[ pal-peyt ]
/ ˈpæl peɪt /
adjective Zoology.
having a palpus or palpi.

Origin of palpate

2
First recorded in 1855–60; palp(us) + -ate1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to palpate

abut, adjoin, border, brush, caress, communicate, contact, converge, dab, examine, feel, finger, fondle, frisk, glance, graze, grope, handle, inspect, join

How to use palpate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for palpate (1 of 2)

palpate1
/ (ˈpælpeɪt) /
verb
(tr) med to examine (an area of the body) by the sense of touch and pressure

Derived forms of palpate

palpation, noun

Word Origin for palpate

C19: from Latin palpāre to stroke

British Dictionary definitions for palpate (2 of 2)

palpate2
/ (ˈpælpeɪt) /
adjective
zoology of, relating to, or possessing a palp or palps
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
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