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Glite Dictionary
colposcope

colposcope

7.9
A tool doctors use to look closely at the cervix and vagina
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒl.pəˌskoʊp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : colposcopio
  • During the check-up, the nurse explained how a colposcope works to visualize the vaginal area.

Examples

  • They could help us with equipment like colposcopes, mammography equipment, or connect us to clinical trial programs to allow patients in D.R. Congo to gain access to cancer care.

    Blog text (19)

  • The doctor used a colposcope to closely examine the patient's cervix for any signs of abnormality.

  • For her appointment, she was nervous about the colposcope examination but relieved it was painless.

Synonyms

vaginoscope
vscolposcope
  • Specialized
9.9

A medical tool used to look inside the vagina and the lower part of the womb

is a general magnifying instrument for examining these areas, not only tissue detail

Surface Forms

colposcope singular
colposcopes plural

Morphology

colposcope = scope (opaque) = colpo + scope

The medical term is built from a Greek combining form plus 'scope', but the first element is not transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word colposcope comes from Greek parts: colpo- from kolpos meaning 'womb' or 'fold', and -scope meaning 'to look', the same ending as in telescope and microscope, so a colposcope is a tool for 'looking' closely at the vagina and cervix.