suture

1 of 2

noun

su·​ture ˈsü-chər How to pronounce suture (audio)
1
a
: a strand or fiber used to sew parts of the living body
also : a stitch made with a suture
b
: the act or process of sewing with sutures
2
a
: a uniting of parts
b
: the seam or seamlike line along which two things or parts are sewed or united
3
a
: the line of union in an immovable articulation (as between the bones of the skull)
also : such an articulation
b
: a furrow at the junction of adjacent bodily parts
especially : a line of dehiscence (as on a fruit)
sutural
ˈsü-chə-rəl How to pronounce suture (audio)
ˈsüch-rəl
adjective
suturally
ˈsü-chə-rə-lē How to pronounce suture (audio)
ˈsüch-rə-
adverb

suture

2 of 2

verb

sutured; suturing ˈsü-chə-riŋ How to pronounce suture (audio)
ˈsüch-riŋ

transitive verb

: to unite, close, or secure with sutures
suture a wound

Examples of suture in a Sentence

Verb The surgeon sutured the incision. the doctor cleaned, sutured, and bandaged the wound
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Such attributes have attracted engineers wishing to devise synthetic imitations to advance tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, surgical sutures, biodegradable packaging and biosensors. Barrett Klein, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024 The breastbone is then sewn back together with small wires, and the muscles and skin on the chest wall are closed with sutures. Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
And when Jay Rubin translated The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1995), roughly 25,000 words were left on the cutting-room floor, while hefty structural changes were required to suture the remaining text together. Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024 If the body has suffered an injury, Sweeney will suture the wound together, then use mortuary wax and cosmetics to smooth it over. Mike Winters,gene Kim, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for suture 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin sutura seam, suture, from sutus, past participle of suere to sew — more at sew

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suture was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near suture

Cite this Entry

“Suture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suture. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

suture

1 of 2 noun
su·​ture ˈsü-chər How to pronounce suture (audio)
1
a
: a stitch made with a suture
b
: a strand or fiber used to sew parts of the living body
c
: the act or process of sewing with sutures
2
: the line of connection in an immovable joint (as between the bones of the skull)
also : such a joint

suture

2 of 2 verb
sutured; suturing ˈsüch-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suture (audio)
: to unite, close, or secure with sutures
suture a wound

Medical Definition

suture

1 of 2 noun
su·​ture ˈsü-chər How to pronounce suture (audio)
1
a
: a stitch made with a suture
b
: a strand or fiber used to sew parts of the living body
c
: the act or process of sewing with sutures
2
a
: the line of union in an immovable articulation (as between the bones of the skull)
also : such an articulation
b
: a furrow at the junction of adjacent bodily parts

suture

2 of 2 transitive verb
sutured; suturing ˈsüch-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suture (audio)
: to unite, close, or secure with sutures
suture a wound

More from Merriam-Webster on suture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!