Main Entry: Pap smear

Pronunciation: \ˈpap-\

Function: noun

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

G. N. Papanicolaou —see papanicolaou smear