auripuncture
|au-ri-punc-ture|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔːrɪˈpʌŋktʃɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːrɪˈpʌŋktʃə/
ear pricking (ear acupuncture)
Etymology
'auripuncture' originates from Latin components: 'aur-' (from Latin 'auris') meaning 'ear' and 'puncture' from Latin 'pungere' meaning 'to prick'.
'auripuncture' is a modern English formation influenced by medical terms such as 'auricular' and 'puncture'; the broader practice of auricular therapy (French 'auriculothérapie', popularized in the mid-20th century) contributed to the coinage of related English terms.
Initially the parts literally signified 'pricking the ear'; over time the term came to denote the specific therapeutic technique of ear acupuncture used in diagnosis and treatment.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a form of acupuncture performed on the external ear (auricle) for diagnosis or treatment of various conditions; also referred to as auricular acupuncture or auriculotherapy.
Auripuncture is sometimes used to help patients manage chronic pain.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to perform auripuncture; to apply acupuncture needles or stimulation to points on the external ear.
The clinician auripuncture the volunteer to evaluate effects on anxiety.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/21 04:22