surgical knife
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A very sharp knife used in surgery: A specialized cutting instrument designed for medical operations, characterized by its extreme sharpness and precision for incisions and tissue manipulation.
Usage
- The term "surgical knife" refers specifically to the instrument itself. It is a count noun (e.g., , ).
- It is used in medical, clinical, and historical contexts to describe a fundamental tool for surgeons.
Examples
- Noun:
- The surgeon carefully selected a new surgical knife for the delicate procedure.
- Before modern scalpels, surgeons used various types of surgical knives.
Advanced Usage
- While "surgical knife" is a precise term, in contemporary medical settings, the more specific term "scalpel" is often used for the common, disposable blade handles. "Surgical knife" can encompass a broader historical range of instruments.
- "To wield a surgical knife": This phrase metaphorically describes performing with great precision and control, often outside a medical context.
- The editor wielded a surgical knife on the manuscript, removing unnecessary passages with precision.
Variants and Related Words
- Scalpel (n): A small, extremely sharp knife with a straight, thin blade, used for surgery and dissection. This is the most common modern type of surgical knife.
- Lancet (n): A small, broad two-edged surgical knife with a sharp point, historically used for making small incisions.
- Bistoury (n): A long, narrow surgical knife, often with a curved blade.
Synonyms
- Scalpel: A small, very sharp surgical knife.
- Lancet: A pointed surgical knife, typically with two cutting edges.
- Operating knife: A direct synonym emphasizing use in operations.
Related Phrases
- Surgical blade: Often refers specifically to the disposable cutting component that attaches to a scalpel handle.
- Surgical instrument: The broader category of tools used in surgery, which includes the surgical knife.
Noun
- a very sharp knife used in surgery