syringe

American  

[suh-rinj, sir-inj] / səˈrɪndʒ, ˈsɪr ɪndʒ /

noun

1. a small device consisting of a glass, metal, or hard rubber tube, narrowed at its outlet, and fitted with either a piston or a rubber bulb for drawing in a quantity of fluid or for ejecting fluid in a stream, for cleaning wounds, injecting fluids into the body, etc.

2. any similar device for pumping and spraying liquids through a small aperture.

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verb (used with object)

syringed, syringing

1. to cleanse, wash, inject, etc., by means of a syringe.

syringe British  

/ sɪˈrɪndʒ, ˈsɪrɪndʒ /

noun

1. med an instrument, such as a hypodermic syringe or a rubber ball with a slender nozzle, for use in withdrawing or injecting fluids, cleaning wounds, etc

2. any similar device for injecting, spraying, or extracting liquids by means of pressure or suction

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verb

1. (tr) to cleanse, inject, or spray with a syringe

syringe Scientific  

/ sə-rĭnj′ /

1. A medical instrument used to inject fluids into the body or draw them from it. Syringes have several different forms. Bulb syringes are usually made of rubber and work by squeezing the bulb to expel a fluid from it, as in ear irrigation. Needle syringes have hypodermic needles attached to plastic or glass tubes that contain plungers to create force or suction.

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Other Word Forms

• syringeful adjective
• unsyringed adjective

Etymology

Origin of syringe

1375–1425; new singular formed from Late Latin sȳringēs, plural of sȳrinx syrinx; replacing late Middle English syring < Medieval Latin syringa

Explanation

A syringe is used, usually by a doctor or nurse, to inject or withdraw a fluid from your body. A syringe is a medical tool used for several purposes, but they all involve liquids going in or out of your body. A flu shot is given with a syringe: that's a liquid going in. A blood sample is taken with a syringe: that's liquid coming out. Part of a syringe is a needle, so patients usually don't like them. Syringes should only be used by medical professionals.

Example Sentences

What followed was a comedy of errors including military drills that outpaced anything this group of office workers had in mind, a rogue porcupine, stranded airplanes and one syringe to the butt of an employee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

It later emerged that the syringe had been sent by Trevor Graham, the sprint coach to US Olympic star Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.

From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025

“It’s definitely a different level of threat than normal,” said Elly Jalayer, director of harm reduction at Bienestar Human Services, which offers HIV testing and treatment as well as syringe exchange.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2025

William aimed a syringe full of the cloudy water at photographers and journalists when he joined schoolchildren collecting DNA samples.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2025

I filled a disposable syringe with the three-units dosage and set it aside.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas