to coapt

9.9

To join the edges of a cut or wound very closely

verb
/koʊˈæpt/

Specialized

: coaptar

The surgeon was careful to coapt the edges of the wound to ensure proper healing.
coapt the dissection
coapted end

Examples

Just a couple of stitches, if necessary, to coapt the gum margins as neatly as possible.

Blog text (32)
Group C: nerve dissection only; Group P: nerve severed with microscissors after dissection, then coapted end-to-end;

Academic text (2015)
Group C: nerve dissection only; Group P: nerve severed with microscissors after dissection, then coapted end-to-end; Group M: as in Group P, followed by enclosure of the nerve.

Academic text (2015)
During the procedure, the doctor used sutures to coapt the tissue layers together securely.
After making the incision, the nurse helped coapt the overlapping skin edges for optimal recovery.

Synonyms

to suture

vsto coapt

Specialized

14 7.3

To sew a cut or wound closed with thread

joins wound edges tightly without specifying how the joining is done

Antonyms

to separate

297 1.9

To break into parts or pieces

to detach

12 4.3

To separate a part from a larger group for a special task

Surface Forms

coapt infinitive

coapted past

coapted past participle

coapting present participle

coapts third person singular

Morphology

coapt = apt (semi-transparent) = co + apt

Formally 'co-' (together) + 'apt' (fit) aligns with the sense 'bring together to fit', but the verb is a rare technical term and the connection may not be fully obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Coapt comes from Latin parts co- ('together') and apt ('fit'), the same root you see in adapt and the word apt, so it means 'fit together'. That's why to coapt in surgery is to bring the edges of a wound tightly together so they can heal.