Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to Julius Caesar: Of, relating to, or in the manner of the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar.
   • Relating to a surgical birth: Of or relating to a surgical procedure for delivering a baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus.

2. Noun:

   • A surgical birth procedure: The delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus. The term originates from the belief that Julius Caesar was born by this method.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The historian gave a lecture on Caesarean military tactics. (Relating to Julius Caesar)
  • The doctor scheduled a Caesarean section for next Tuesday. (Relating to a surgical birth)

• Noun:

  • The baby was delivered by Caesarean because of complications.
  • She had an emergency Caesarean during labor.

Advanced Usage

• "Caesarean section": This is the full, formal medical term for the procedure, often abbreviated as "C-section" in common usage.
  • The most common type of major surgery performed worldwide is the Caesarean section.

Variants and Related Words

• Caesarian: An alternative spelling of "caesarean."
• Cesarean / Cesarian: The American English spelling variants.
• C-section (n.): The common abbreviated term for a Caesarean section.
  • She is recovering well from her C-section.

Synonyms

• For the noun (surgical procedure): Abdominal delivery, C-section, cesarean delivery.

Notes on Meaning

The word has two distinct meanings: 1. The historical/literary meaning relating directly to Julius Caesar. 2. The predominant modern medical meaning referring to the surgical birth procedure. The connection between the two meanings is etymological, based on the ancient story about Caesar's birth. In contemporary usage, the medical meaning is by far the most common.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or in the manner of Julius Caesar
2. relating to abdominal delivery

Noun

1. the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus (from the belief that Julius Caesar was born that way)