laceration

/,læsə'reiʃn/
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Thân thiện
laceration

The nurse carefully cleans the deep laceration on the patient's forearm.

Definition

Noun 1. A torn, jagged, or mangled wound: A laceration is a type of injury where the skin and often the underlying tissue are torn, resulting in a wound with irregular, ragged edges. It is typically caused by blunt force trauma or a tearing action. 2. The act of lacerating: The process or action of tearing or mangling something, especially flesh.

Usage and Examples
  • As a wound:
    • The doctor cleaned and stitched the deep laceration on his arm.
    • The accident resulted in multiple lacerations to her face and legs.
  • As the act of tearing:
    • The laceration of the skin was caused by the sharp metal edge. (This usage is less common in everyday language and more formal or technical.)
Advanced Usage
  • Figurative/Emotional Use: The word can be used metaphorically to describe severe emotional pain or damage.
    • The betrayal caused a deep emotional laceration that took years to heal.
  • Medical Context: In medical terminology, a laceration is specifically distinguished from an (a clean cut) by its ragged nature.
Variants and Related Words
  • Lacerate (verb): To tear or deeply cut (something, especially flesh or skin).
    • The barbed wire lacerated his hands.
  • Lacerated (adjective): Torn or mangled; deeply hurt.
    • He suffered a lacerated liver in the crash.
    • Her lacerated feelings were evident.
Synonyms
  • Tear (noun): A hole or split caused by tearing.
  • Gash (noun): A long, deep cut or wound.
  • Rip (noun): A tear or split in material.
  • Mangle (verb/noun): To severely mutilate or disfigure by tearing or crushing.
Antonyms
  • Incision (noun): A surgical cut made with a sharp, clean edge.
  • Abrasion (noun): A wound caused by superficial damage to the skin, like a scrape.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • To suffer lacerations: A common phrase in accident or injury reports.
    • The driver suffered minor lacerations but was otherwise unharmed.
  • Laceration and contusion: A frequent pairing in medical contexts, referring to cuts and bruises.
    • The patient was treated for multiple lacerations and contusions.
laceration

The nurse carefully cleans the deep laceration on the patient's forearm.

Noun
  1. the act of lacerating
  2. a torn ragged wound