bolus

noun

bo·​lus ˈbō-ləs How to pronounce bolus (audio)
plural boluses
1
: a rounded mass: such as
a
: a large pill
b
: a soft mass of chewed food
2
medical
a
: a dose of a substance (such as a drug) given intravenously
b
: a large dose of a substance given by injection for the purpose of rapidly achieving the needed therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream

Examples of bolus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
With Caravan Tech’s innovative tracking system utilizing bolus and ear tag technology, livestock movements can be monitored in real-time, enabling rapid response to disease outbreaks. Patrick Skerrett, STAT, 18 May 2024 This information helps determine your bolus insulin needs. Lynne Peeples, Health, 26 May 2024 The key features of Caravan Tech’s tags and boluses include GPS tracking, temperature monitoring, and health status indicators, providing comprehensive data for disease surveillance and control. Patrick Skerrett, STAT, 18 May 2024 Once downloaded, t:connect works alongside Tandem’s t:slim X2 insulin pump by allowing diabetes patients to issue bolus doses of insulin over Bluetooth. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for bolus 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek bōlos lump

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bolus was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near bolus

Cite this Entry

“Bolus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolus. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

bolus

noun
bo·​lus ˈbō-ləs How to pronounce bolus (audio)
plural boluses
1
: a rounded mass: as
a
: a large pill
b
: a soft mass of chewed food
2
a
: a dose of a substance (as a drug) given intravenously
b
: a large dose of a substance given by injection for the purpose of rapidly achieving the needed therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream
the patient receives a bolus dose to reach the minimum effective analgesic concentrationJ. F. Camp
subcutaneous injection of a premeal bolus of fast-acting insulin

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