biopsy

Definition

The removal and examination of a sample of tissue, cells, or bodily fluid from a living body for diagnostic purposes.

Etymology

From French biopsie, from bi- + -opsy.

Example Sentences

• "We will need to perform a biopsy to determine whether the tumour is malignant or benign."
• "All the while he was talking, he took lots of biopsies, small samples of tissue to be examined by pathologists using a microscope."