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Definition of trephine in English:

trephine

noun

  • A hole saw used in surgery to remove a circle of tissue or bone.

    • ‘The bone marrow aspirate was similar to the trephine, with 15% of blasts showing monocytoid differentiation together with an absolute monocytosis and mild dyserythropoiesis.’
    • ‘An instrument that acts like a cookie cutter, called a trephine, cuts a precise circular shape.’
    • ‘In 2 cases, a bone marrow trephine biopsy was also available for examination.’
    • ‘The only difference in processing of the BM core and clot was decalcification of the trephine core biopsy.’
    • ‘The instrument for this is still called a trephine.’

verb

[with object]

  • Operate on with a trephine.

    ‘The invention relates to a method and apparatus for trephining corneal tissue in preparation for keratoplasty.’

Origin

Early 17th century from Latin tres fines ‘three ends’, apparently influenced by trepan.

Pronunciation

trephine

/trɪˈfʌɪn/ /trɪˈfiːn/