phlebotomy
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of phlebotomy
First recorded in 1350–1400; earlier flebotomye, phlebothomy, from Middle French flebotomie, from Medieval Latin phlebotomia, Late Latin, from Greek phlebotomía; equivalent to phlebo- + -tomy; replacing Middle English fleobotomie, from Medieval Latin fleobotomia, variant of phlebotomia
Explanation
Doctors can tell a lot from looking at a patient's blood, and in order to do that, they depend on phlebotomy — the medical specialty of collecting blood using a needle. In some cases, phlebotomy can help to diagnose a patient with a particular illness. The person who inserts the needle, draws the blood, labels the test tubes, and puts a bandage on the patient's arm is called a phlebotomist. The original definition of phlebotomy was simply "bloodletting," from the Greek roots phleps, "vein," and tomia, "cutting off." Historically, early phlebotomy involved using leeches to suck "toxins" from patients' blood.
Vocabulary lists containing phlebotomy
Ghost
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My Sister's Keeper
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An American Plague
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Recently, The Christie - one of the largest cancer treatment centres of its type in Europe - has positioned phlebotomy units around the region in what's known as "bloods closer to home."
From BBC • May 10, 2024
I also did a whole series of what I call phlebotomy horror stories, which I loved doing.
From The New Yorker • Oct. 28, 2019
That’s like saying the U.S. knitwear scene is lagging because our most accurate needlers go into phlebotomy.
From Slate • May 11, 2018
“All of the counselors firmly believe the philosophy that college is great,” a counselor said at senior parent information night, even while pushing trade school programs in phlebotomy and cosmetology.
From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2017
Nor has Dr. Blanton been able to find, as a result of his research, any more evidence of phlebotomy although, again, its utilization must have been widespread.
From Medicine in Virginia, 1607-1699 by Hughes, Thomas Proctor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
