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Glite Dictionary
cytosmear

cytosmear

9.1
A thin sample of cells spread and stained on a glass slide to view under a microscope
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪtəʊˌsmɪr/
  • Specialized
translation icon : extendido citológico
  • After preparing the cytosmear, the technician stained it to highlight cellular features.

Examples

  • The doctor examined the cytosmear for abnormalities.

  • She prepared a cytosmear from the blood sample.

  • A cytosmear is commonly used in screening for cervical cancer.

  • The doctor examined the cytosmear to look for any abnormal cells.

  • A cytosmear is commonly used in screening for cervical cancer.

  • After preparing the cytosmear, the technician stained it to highlight cellular features.

  • The doctor examined the cytosmear to look for any abnormal cells.

Synonyms

smear
vscytosmear
  • Specialized
21 6.4

A thin sample of cells or fluid placed on a glass slide

is narrower focusing on cytology and stained blood or tissue slides
cytologic smear
vscytosmear
  • Specialized
6.1

A small sample of cells spread thin on a glass slide to look at under a microscope

is identical in meaning but used as a single technical term
cytologic specimen
vscytosmear
  • Specialized
8.0

A sample of cells taken from the body for examination under a microscope

is a specific thin stained slide form of that collected sample

Surface Forms

cytosmear singular
cytosmears plural

Morphology

cytosmear = smear (semi-transparent) = cyto + smear

The relation of 'smear' to the meaning is clear, but 'cyto' is a technical combining form meaning 'cell' that many general learners will not know.

Etymology

Cytosmear comes from Greek cyto- meaning 'cell' and the common English word smear meaning 'to spread', so it literally describes a thin spread of cells on a glass slide to be looked at under a microscope.