Definition

Noun: 1. A medical process for removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are not functioning properly. This is achieved by passing the blood through a special machine (a dialyzer) or using the lining of the patient's own abdomen as a filter. 2. (Chemistry) The separation of smaller molecules from larger ones or from colloidal particles in a solution by selective diffusion through a semipermeable membrane.

Usage and Examples

• Medical Context:
  • The patient requires dialysis three times a week to manage kidney failure.
  • Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are the two main types of treatment.
• Scientific/Chemical Context:
  • In the laboratory, dialysis is used to purify protein solutions.
  • The process of dialysis relies on the differential rates of diffusion across a membrane.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on dialysis": to be receiving regular dialysis treatment.
  • My grandfather has been on dialysis for two years.
• "to undergo dialysis": to have a dialysis treatment.
  • Patients typically undergo dialysis for several hours per session.

Variants and Related Words

• Dialyze (verb): To subject to dialysis; to perform dialysis on.
  • The blood is dialyzed to remove toxins.
• Dialytic (adjective): Relating to or involving dialysis.
  • The dialytic process was carefully monitored.
• Hemodialysis (noun): A type of dialysis where blood is circulated outside the body through a machine that filters it.
• Peritoneal Dialysis (noun): A type of dialysis where a cleansing fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity to filter waste from the blood.

Synonyms

• Medical: Renal replacement therapy, blood purification.
• Scientific: Separation, purification, filtration (specifically by diffusion).

Related Phrases

• Dialysis machine: The equipment used to perform hemodialysis.
• Dialysis membrane: The semipermeable barrier used in the process.
• Dialysis solution/dialysate: The fluid used in dialysis to draw out wastes and excess fluid.

Noun

1. separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes