circumcision

cir·cum·ci·sion

noun \ˌsər-k^əm-ˈsi-zhən, ˈsər-k^əm-ˌ\

Definition of CIRCUMCISION

1

a : the act of circumcising; especially : a Jewish rite performed on male infants as a sign of inclusion in the Jewish religious community

b : the condition of being circumcised

2

capitalized : January 1 observed as a festival in some churches in commemoration of the circumcision of Jesus

First Known Use of CIRCUMCISION

12th century

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with CIRCUMCISION

cell division, double vision, imprecision, indecision, long division, short division, split decision, subdivision, supervision, tunnel vision

cir·cum·ci·sion

noun \ˌsər-kəm-ˈsizh-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CIRCUMCISION

1

: the act of circumcising: a : the cutting off of the foreskin of males that is practiced as a religious rite by Jews and Muslims and as a sanitary measure in modern surgery b : female genital mutilation

2

: the condition of being circumcised

circumcision

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Cutting away of all or part of the foreskin (prepuce) of the penis. The practice is known in many cultures. It is performed either shortly after birth (e.g., among Muslims and Jews), within a few years of birth, or at puberty. For Jews it represents the fulfillment of the covenant between God and Abraham (Genesis 17:10–14). That Christians were not obliged to be circumcised was first recorded biblically in Acts 15. Evidence regarding the purported medical benefits of circumcision (e.g., reduced risk of cancer) is inconclusive, and the practice persists mainly for cultural reasons. See also clitoridectomy.