definitions

palpate

1
[ pal-peyt ]
/ ˈpæl peɪt /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR palpate 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.

RELATED WORDS

taste, feeling, contact, communication, impression, atmosphere, mood, touch, aura, sense, ambience, quality, lick, tap, feel, scratch, collision, stroke, caress, embrace

Nearby words

palouse, paloverde, palp, palpable, palpal, palpate, palpation, palpatory, palpatory percussion, palpebra, palpebral

Origin of palpate

1
1840–50; < Latin palpātus, past participle of palpāre to stroke, touch; see palpus, -ate1
Related formspal·pa·tion, nounpal·pa·to·ry [pal-puh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈpæl pəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for palpation

British Dictionary definitions for palpation (1 of 2)

palpate

1
/ (ˈpælpeɪt) /

verb

(tr) med to examine (an area of the body) by the sense of touch and pressure
Derived Formspalpation, noun

Word Origin for palpate

C19: from Latin palpāre to stroke

British Dictionary definitions for palpation (2 of 2)

palpate

2
/ (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

Medicine definitions for palpation

palpate

[ păl′pāt′ ]

v.

To examine by feeling and pressing with the palms of the hands and the fingers.
Related formspal•pa′tion n.pal′pa•tor′y (-pə-tôr′ē) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.