auscultation
|aus-cult-a-tion|
/ˌɔːskəlˈteɪʃən/
listening to body sounds
Etymology
'auscultation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'auscultatio', where 'auscultare' meant 'to listen'.
'auscultation' changed from the Medieval Latin word 'auscultatio' and entered English via learned borrowing (from Latin) in the modern period.
Initially, it meant 'the action of listening'; over time it retained this core sense and came to be used specifically for medical listening with instruments like the stethoscope.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of listening to the internal sounds of the body (such as the heart or lungs), typically with a stethoscope, for diagnostic purposes.
The physician performed auscultation and detected a faint heart murmur.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/21 16:30