cervix

play

noun cer·vix \ˈsər-viks\

Definition of cervix

plural

cervices

play \ˈsər-və-ˌsēz, (ˌ)sər-ˈvī-(ˌ)sēz\ or

cervixes

1 : neck; especially : the back part of the neck
2 : a constricted portion of an organ or part; especially : the narrow outer end of the uterus

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Recent Examples of cervix from the Web

Basically, tenting is thought to help the movement of sperm up into the cervix for conception.

— zoe ruderman, Cosmopolitan, "22 Vital Facts You Need to Know About Your Vagina", 19 June 2017
Her doctor also prescribed her an anxiety medication, a pain reliever, and the hormone misoprostol, which softens the cervix to make IUD insertion easier.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Walgreens Pharmacist Allegedly Refuses to Sell Hormone Related to IUD", 4 June 2017
Other cancers linked to tobacco include that of the mouth, larynx, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas and cervix, as well as a form of leukemia.

— paul sisson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Half of all cancer deaths are avoidable. Follow these key prevention steps.", 2 June 2017
Getting to 100 percent, Sadler noted, is probably not feasible because some women will have health conditions that make screening unnecessary or impractical, or will have undergone procedures such as hysterectomy, which leave them without a cervix.

— paul sisson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Half of all cancer deaths are avoidable. Follow these key prevention steps.", 2 June 2017
The nurse passes the ob/gyn an instrument to help dilate the patient’s cervix, and then passes her the vacuum aspirator.

— augusta macqueen, SELF, "I'm an Abortion Doula—Here's What I Do and See During a Typical Shift", 1 June 2017
The system comprises mouse ovarian cells (which produce the same hormones as human ovaries), along with human cells from the fallopian tube, endometrium and cervix.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "Menstrual Cycle “on a Chip” Offers a New Window into Female Physiology", 22 May 2017
Surgeries to remove her thyroid, cervix, uterus and ovaries followed.

— joe noga, cleveland.com, "Indians Honorary Bat Girl Julie Everett refuses to let breast cancer keep her away from the ballpark", 13 May 2017
Giving birth takes a brutal toll on a woman's body, and many things can go wrong along the way - a tear in the vagina or birth canal, a rupture of the cervix, a placenta that is stuck to the womb and doesn't separate properly.

— ariana eunjung cha, chicagotribune.com, "$1 injection could treat dangerous bleeding after childbirth", 27 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cervix'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cervix

Latin cervic-, cervix

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

CERVIX Defined for English Language Learners

cervix

play

noun

Definition of cervix for English Language Learners

medical : the narrow end at the opening of a woman's uterus

Medical Dictionary

cervix

play

noun cer·vix \ˈsər-viks\

Medical Definition of cervix

plural

cervices

\-və-ˌsēz, ˌsər-ˈvī-(ˌ)sēz\play or

cervixes

1: neck 1a; especially : the back part of the neck
2: a constricted portion of an organ or part: asa: the narrow lower or outer end of the uterusb: the constricted cementoenamel junction on a tooth