gall-stone
Definition
- Noun:
- A hard, solid mass: "gall-stone" refers to a small, hard, crystalline mass that forms in the gallbladder or bile ducts, composed mainly of cholesterol, bile pigments, and calcium salts.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The patient was diagnosed with a single gall-stone after experiencing severe abdominal pain. (A hard mass in the gallbladder causing discomfort.)
- Surgery may be required to remove a large gall-stone that blocks the bile duct. (A solid formation obstructing bile flow.)
Advanced Usage
"to have a gall-stone": to possess one or more such masses in the gallbladder.
- She discovered she had a gall-stone during a routine ultrasound. (She was found to have a solid mass in her gallbladder.)
"to pass a gall-stone": to expel a gall-stone through the bile duct naturally, often causing pain.
- He was able to pass a small gall-stone without surgery. (He excreted the mass through natural means.)
Variants and Related Words
Gallstone (n): an alternative spelling of "gall-stone," meaning the same thing.
- The doctor recommended a diet change to prevent gallstone formation. (Dietary advice to avoid hard masses in the gallbladder.)
Gallbladder (n): the organ where gall-stones typically form.
- The gallbladder stores bile, and gall-stones can develop there. (The organ responsible for bile storage.)
Synonyms
Biliary calculus: a medical term for a gall-stone.
- The ultrasound revealed a biliary calculus in the common bile duct. (A gall-stone located in the bile duct.)
Cholelith: a scientific synonym for a gall-stone.
- Choleliths are often detected through imaging tests. (Gall-stones are found via scans.)
Related Idioms
- "a stone in the gall": an idiomatic expression meaning a persistent annoyance or problem (rare, based on the discomfort of gall-stones).
- His constant complaining has become a stone in the gall for everyone. (His behaviour is a persistent source of irritation.)
(Note: This idiom is uncommon and metaphorical; not standard medical usage.)