trephine
[ trih-fahyn, -feen ]
/ trɪˈfaɪn, -ˈfin /
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noun
a small circular saw with a center pin mounted on a strong hollow metal shaft to which is attached a transverse handle: used in surgery to remove circular disks of bone from the skull.
verb (used with object), tre·phined, tre·phin·ing.
to operate upon with a trephine.
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Origin of trephine
1620–30; spelling variant of trefine, originally trafine, blend of trapan (variant of trepan1) and Latin phrase trēs fīnēs three ends (the inventor's explanation)
OTHER WORDS FROM trephine
treph·i·na·tion [tref-uh-ney-shuhn], /ˌtrɛf əˈneɪ ʃən/, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use trephine in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for trephine
trephine
/ (trɪˈfiːn) /
noun
a surgical sawlike instrument for removing circular sections of bone, esp from the skull
verb
(tr) to remove a circular section of bone from (esp the skull)
Also called: trepan
Derived forms of trephine
trephination (ˌtrɛfɪˈneɪʃən), nounWord Origin for trephine
C17: from French tréphine, from obsolete English trefine trepan 1, allegedly from Latin trēs fīnēs literally: three ends; influenced also by English trepane trepan 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for trephine
trephine
[ trĭ-fīn′ ]
n.
A cylindrical or crown saw for the removal of a disk of bone, especially from the skull, or removal of other firm tissue such as that of the cornea.
v.
To operate on with a trephine.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.