radiopaque

American  

[rey-dee-oh-peyk] / ˌreɪ di oʊˈpeɪk /

adjective

1. opaque to radiation; visible in x-ray photographs and under fluoroscopy (radiotransparent ).

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radiopaque British  

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈpeɪk, ˌreɪdɪəʊˈpæsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. not permitting X-rays or other radiation to pass through

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Other Word Forms

• radiopacity noun

Etymology

Origin of radiopaque

First recorded in 1925–30; radi(o)- + opaque

Compare meaning

How does radiopaque compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• radiopaque vs. radiolucent

Example Sentences

If a woman has certain radiopaque dyes injected for gall-bladder X rays, for example, a baby that she bears several years later may have an abnormal level of iodine in the blood.

From Time Magazine Archive

He is impatiently awaiting delivery of an X-ray machine which will take pictures at 1/500 sec. and, with radiopaque dyes, will show precisely where and how extensively a coronary artery is blocked�or unblocked.

From Time Magazine Archive

A second diagnostic advance comes from use of radiopaque dyes, which are injected into arteries leading to the brain: X rays help to locate obstructions to circulation resulting from thromboses and especially aneurysms.

From Time Magazine Archive

A radiopaque substance was injected into the coronary vessels, and X-ray pictures were taken, revealing a blood clot.

From Time Magazine Archive

To guard against clots, he flushed out the whole artery-vein system with a special saline solution combined with antibiotics, an anticoagulant and a radiopaque dye.

From Time Magazine Archive