PAPANICOLAOU SMEAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Papanicolaou smear mean? 

• PAPANICOLAOU SMEAR (noun)
  The noun PAPANICOLAOU SMEAR has 1 sense:

1. a sample of secretions and superficial cells of the uterine cervix and uterus; examined with a microscope to detect any abnormal cells

  Familiarity information: PAPANICOLAOU SMEAR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PAPANICOLAOU SMEAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sample of secretions and superficial cells of the uterine cervix and uterus; examined with a microscope to detect any abnormal cells

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

cervical smear; Pap smear; Papanicolaou smear

Hypernyms ("Papanicolaou smear" is a kind of...):

cytologic smear; cytosmear; smear (a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope)

Holonyms ("Papanicolaou smear" is a part of...):

Pap test; Papanicolaou test; smear test (a method of examining stained cells in a cervical smear for early diagnosis of uterine cancer)