Word
suture
Phoneticssu·ture, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsutʃɝ/
UK/sˈuːtʃɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a stitch or a row of stitches that a doctor uses to hold the edges of a wound together so it can heal.
n. a stitch or series of stitches made to secure the edges of a surgical incision or a deep wound. In anatomy, it also refers to the immovable fibrous joints between the bones of the skull.
Examples
“The doctor removed the sutures once the wound had closed.”
“After the surgery, the nurse checked the sutures to ensure there were no signs of infection or tearing.”
“While absorbable sutures eventually dissolve within the body's tissues, non-absorbable varieties must be manually extracted by a medical professional after sufficient healing has occurred.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor removed the sutures once the wound had closed.”
contextual
“After the surgery, the nurse checked the sutures to ensure there were no signs of infection or tearing.”
complex
“While absorbable sutures eventually dissolve within the body's tissues, non-absorbable varieties must be manually extracted by a medical professional after sufficient healing has occurred.”
Usage
Commonly used in medical contexts; can refer to the material used (the thread) or the resulting stitch itself.
Etymology
From Middle English suture, from Latin sūtūra (“suture”), from suere (“sew, join or tack together”) + -tūra (forms action nouns).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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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