syringe

1 of 2

noun

sy·​ringe sə-ˈrinj How to pronounce syringe (audio)
also
ˈsir-inj How to pronounce syringe (audio)
: a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from something (such as the body or its cavities): such as
a
: a device that consists of a nozzle of varying length and a compressible rubber bulb and is used for injection or irrigation
b
: an instrument (as for the injection of medicine or the withdrawal of bodily fluids) that consists of a hollow barrel fitted with a plunger and a hollow needle
c
: a gravity device consisting of a reservoir fitted with a long rubber tube ending with an exchangeable nozzle that is used for irrigation of the vagina or bowel

syringe

2 of 2

verb

syringed; syringing

transitive verb

: to irrigate or spray with or as if with a syringe

Examples of syringe in a Sentence

Noun the syringe the nurse was leveling at my arm looked to me to be at least 10 inches long
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In a video posted to the center’s Facebook page Tuesday, Executive Director Melissa Stanley is shown wearing a red fox mask and rubber gloves while feeding the tiny kit from a syringe. Denise Lavoie, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Local governments would have been allowed, but not required, to set up the needle exchanges, which are sometimes called syringe service programs. Mitch Smith, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 In the early 2000s, USADA took a used syringe containing traces of a mysterious substance to Catlin’s lab. Les Carpenter, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2024 Recommended Talk of a Trump ‘dictatorship’: What’s behind the fears These approaches, such as making overdose reversal medications, drug-checking technologies, and syringe services more available, do have significant public health benefits, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jan. 2024 Jones was court ordered to stay at the Logansport treatment facility for 90 days after serving time in prison on a charge of unlawful possession of a syringe as a habitual offender. The Indianapolis Star, 9 Jan. 2024 Documents say the girl’s mother, 24-year-old Sara Harris, told police the girl was fussy the night before and gave her ibuprofen via a syringe at 5 p.m. the day prior and carried her around until the baby fell asleep at 2:30 a.m. The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 On her balcony, there was a strange clue: a syringe filled with a mysterious yellowish-brown substance. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2024 The robotic arm will be controlled remotely with the help of artificial intelligence for precise printing and the ink will be delivered by a catheter or a small syringe. Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 7 Dec. 2023
Verb
Dispose of the needle and syringe safely in a sharps container. The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023 Many people use capsules and simply push the powder out of the capsule and mix it with food, while others will brew the oil into tea and syringe it into their cat’s mouth. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2022 Irrigating your sinuses is a simple practice anyone can implement at home using a neti pot, sinus rinse bottle, or syringe bulb available at a pharmacy or retailer like Target or Walmart. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022 This includes homeless service providers, syringe exchange and other harm reduction programs, drug treatment programs, public health departments and pharmacies. Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 The report also supports increasing access to syringe service programs, naloxone, and fentanyl test strips. Julie Washington, cleveland, 24 May 2022 Beer cans, needle caps, syringe plungers and other trash lay scattered on the ground out back. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2022 According to one study, first-time participants in Seattle needle or syringe exchange programs were up to five times more likely to enter treatment for substance use disorder than people who did not utilize these resources. Stacker.com, al, 26 Apr. 2022 But syringe exchange programs, which are often sites where naloxone is distributed, are controversial. Kirsi Goldynia, CNN, 19 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'syringe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English syring, from Anglo-French siringe, from Medieval Latin syringa, from Late Latin, injection, from Greek syring-, syrinx panpipe, tube

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of syringe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near syringe

Cite this Entry

“Syringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syringe. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

syringe

1 of 2 noun
sy·​ringe sə-ˈrinj How to pronounce syringe (audio)
 also  ˈsir-inj
: a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from the body or its cavities

syringe

2 of 2 verb
syringed; syringing
: to flush or cleanse with or as if with a syringe

Medical Definition

syringe

noun
sy·​ringe
sə-ˈrinj also ˈsir-inj
: a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from something (as the body or its cavities): as
a
: a device that consists of a nozzle of varying length and a compressible rubber bulb and is used for injection or irrigation
an ear syringe
b
: an instrument (as for the injection of medicine or the withdrawal of bodily fluids) that consists of a hollow barrel fitted with a plunger and a hollow needle
c
: a gravity device consisting of a reservoir fitted with a long rubber tube ending with an exchangeable nozzle that is used for irrigation of the vagina or bowel
syringe transitive verb
syringed; syringing

More from Merriam-Webster on syringe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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