Main Entry: Pap smear

Pronunciation: \ˈpap-\

Function: noun

Etymology: George North Papanicolaou †1962 American medical scientist

Date: 1952

: a method for the early detection of cancer especially of the uterine cervix that involves the staining of exfoliated cells using a special technique which differentiates diseased tissue —called also Papanicolaou smear, Papanicolaou test, Pap test