Definition

1. Noun (Proper noun):
   • A major river in western Siberia: A major river system in western Siberia, Russia, flowing generally northward and westward to empty into the Gulf of Ob and the Kara Sea.
   • The branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother: A common abbreviation for the medical specialty of obstetrics, which focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Proper noun - River):
  • The Ob is one of the longest rivers in Russia.
  • Many cities, like Novosibirsk, are located along the Ob River.
• Noun (Abbreviation - Medicine):
  • She is a doctor specializing in OB.
  • The patient was referred to the OB department for her prenatal checkup.

Advanced Usage

• "OB/GYN": A common combined abbreviation for the medical fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
  • Her physician is an OB/GYN, so she handles both prenatal care and general women's health.

Variants and Related Words

• Obstetrics (n): The full, formal name of the medical specialty.
  • She studied obstetrics to become a midwife.
• Obstetrician (n): A doctor who specializes in obstetrics.
  • The obstetrician delivered the baby.

Synonyms

• Obstetrics (for the medical sense): The full term for the medical field.
• Ob River (for the geographical sense): The full name of the river.

Notes on Usage

• When used as an abbreviation for "obstetrics," it is often capitalized (OB) in medical contexts.
• When referring to the river, it is always a proper noun and is capitalized (Ob).
• The abbreviation is primarily used in spoken and informal written English within healthcare settings; in formal writing, "obstetrics" is preferred.

Noun

1. the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother
2. a major river of western Siberia; flows generally northward and westward to the Gulf of Ob and the Kara Sea