perfuse

verb

per·​fuse (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüz How to pronounce perfuse (audio)
perfused; perfusing

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to cause to flow or spread : diffuse
b
: to force a fluid through (an organ or tissue) especially by way of the blood vessels
perfusion noun

Examples of perfuse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After the hearts were perfused, the tissue and the perfusate or perfusion liquid were analyzed and other data were collected including pressure, flow, and ultrasound to see how the heart contracted. Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 22 July 2024 Devices for perfusing hearts and livers were approved in late 2021. Ted Alcorn, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024 Inside that device, the blood passed through a membrane that functioned like an artificial lung, and then it was pumped, freshly oxygenated, back into Sauer’s artery to perfuse his body — and most important, his brain. Helen Ouyang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024 Activities for people with dementia are usually perfused with nostalgia, turning away from the difficult present to relive what remains of the past. Kat McGowan, WIRED, 4 Jan. 2024 Recent research suggests that mycorrhizal networks also perfuse prairies, grasslands, chaparral and Arctic tundra — essentially everywhere there is life on land. Julia Skinner, Longreads, 16 July 2022 Several thousand patients had such severe problems with their hearts and lungs that doctors had to divert their blood out of their bodies and perfuse it with oxygen by machine—a last ditch treatment known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2012

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perfuse.' 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

Middle English, from Latin perfusus, past participle of perfundere to pour over, from per- through + fundere to pour — more at found

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of perfuse was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near perfuse

Cite this Entry

“Perfuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfuse. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

perfuse

transitive verb
per·​fuse (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüz How to pronounce perfuse (audio)
perfused; perfusing
1
: suffuse
the skin was perfused by blood
2
a
: to cause to flow or spread : diffuse
b
: to force a fluid through (an organ or tissue) especially by way of the blood vessels
perfuse a liver with salt solution

More from Merriam-Webster on perfuse

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!