suture

[ soo-cher ]

noun

1. Surgery.
   1. a joining of the lips or edges of a wound or the like by stitching or some similar process.
   2. a particular method of doing this.
   3. one of the stitches or fastenings employed.
2. Anatomy.
   1. the line of junction of two bones, especially of the skull, in an immovable articulation.
   2. the articulation itself.
3. Zoology, Botany. the junction or line of junction of contiguous parts, as the line of closure between the valves of a bivalve shell, a seam where carpels of a pericarp join, etc.
4. a seam as formed in sewing; a line of junction between two parts.
5. a sewing together or a joining as by sewing.

verb (used with object)

, su·tured, su·tur·ing.

1. to unite by or as by a suture.

suture

/ ˈsuːtʃə /

noun

1. surgery
   1. catgut, silk thread, or wire used to stitch together two bodily surfaces
   2. the surgical seam formed after joining two surfaces Also calledseam
2. anatomy a type of immovable joint, esp between the bones of the skull ( cranial suture )
3. a seam or joining, as in sewing
4. zoology a line of junction in a mollusc shell, esp the line between adjacent chambers of a nautiloid shell
5. botany a line marking the point of dehiscence in a seed pod or capsule

verb

1. tr surgery to join (the edges of a wound, etc) by means of sutures

Derived Forms

• ˈsuturally, adverb
• ˈsutural, adjective

Other Words From

• sutur·al adjective
• sutur·al·ly adverb
• pre·sutur·al adjective
• un·sutured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suture¹

1535–45; < Latin sūtūra seam, suture, equivalent to sūt ( us ) (past participle of suere to sew ¹ ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of suture¹

C16: from Latin sūtūra, from suere to sew

Example Sentences

The robotics startup Vicarious Surgical aims to assist clinicians in completing very fine dissections and sutures to expand their access to the abdominal cavity.

From Time

Another of Zhao’s innovations is a quick-sealing tape that can replace surgical sutures and staples, in conjunction with a gel that can instantly stop severe bleeding.

From MIT Technology Review

Taylor developed a surgical suture additive from the root vegetable’s extract that changes color when an infection is present.

From Washington Post

She wants to patent her beet-infused sutures, continue additional studies, and work toward getting it licensed so it can be put into practice.

From Washington Post

Before starting her suture research, Taylor spent years focused on racial equity work in her community.

From Washington Post

He says that this suture insures the redintegration of the nerve much better.

From Project Gutenberg

The preferable suture material in his experience was silk or linen.

From Project Gutenberg

The inflexed or inferior lateral margin of the Prothorax, separated in many genera from the Antepectus by a suture.

From Project Gutenberg

The relative lengths of the prefrontal and internasal sutures are subequal, or the prefrontal suture is slightly longer.

From Project Gutenberg

This I secured at once with suture and the accident had no bad consequences.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• stitch