Word
prosthesis
Phoneticspros·the·sis, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌpɹɔsˈθɛsɪs/
UK/pɹˈɒsθəsˌɪs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an artificial body part that replaces a missing one, like a leg or an arm. It can also mean a fake tooth or a device that helps you see or hear better.
n. an artificial replacement for a missing body part, such as a limb, tooth, or eye. In a linguistic context, it refers to the addition of a sound or syllable to the beginning of a word to make it easier to pronounce.
Real-World Examples
“The soldier who buried his own amputated arm and invented a custom prosthesis spent decades fiercely fighting for the pension and independence he believed he had earned.” “That brings us closer to our long-term goal of developing a new type of retinal prosthesis," says Menglin Chen, associate professor at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering at Aarhus University.” Etymology
Via Latin, from Ancient Greek πρόσθεσις (prósthesis, “addition”), from προστίθημι (prostíthēmi, “I add”), from πρός (prós, “towards”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “I place”), from Proto-Indo-European próti, préti + *dʰédʰeh₁ti (“to be putting, to be placing”). By surface analysis, prosth- + -esis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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