paracentesis

[par-uh-sen-tee-sis]

noun

Surgery.

plural

paracenteses 

1. puncture of the wall of a cavity to drain off fluid.

paracentesis

/ ˌpærəsɛnˈtiːsɪs /

noun

1. med the surgical puncture of a body cavity in order to draw off excess fluid

Word History and Origins

Origin of paracentesis¹

1590–1600; < Latin paracentēsis perforation, tapping < Greek parakéntēsis, equivalent to parakentē-, variant stem of parakenteîn to prick beside ( para- para- ¹ + kenteîn to prick, pierce) + -sis -sis