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ultrasound

noun ul·tra·sound \ ˈəl-trə-ˌsau̇nd \
|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018
1 : vibrations of the same physical nature as sound but with frequencies above the range of human hearing
2 : the diagnostic or therapeutic use of ultrasound and especially a noninvasive technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures and the detection of bodily abnormalities — called also sonography
3 : a diagnostic examination using ultrasound

See ultrasound defined for English-language learners

See ultrasound defined for kids

Examples of ultrasound in a Sentence

  1. They used ultrasound to examine his heart.

  2. She had an ultrasound exam this morning.

  3. She had an ultrasound this morning.

  4. She showed me an ultrasound of her unborn baby.

Recent Examples of ultrasound from the Web

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

First Known Use of ultrasound

1923

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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ULTRASOUND Defined for English Language Learners

ultrasound

noun

  • : a type of sound that is too high for humans to hear

  • medical : a method of producing images of the inside of the body by using a machine that produces sound waves which are too high to be heard

  • : an image that is made using ultrasound

Medical Dictionary

1

ultrasound

noun ul·tra·sound \ ˈəl-trə-ˌsau̇nd \
1 : vibrations of the same physical nature as sound but with frequencies above the range of human hearing — compare infrasound
2 : the diagnostic or therapeutic use of ultrasound and especially a noninvasive technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures and the detection of bodily abnormalities — called also echography, sonography, ultrasonography
3 : a diagnostic examination using ultrasound
2

ultrasound

adjective
: of, relating to, performed by, using, or specializing in ultrasound
  • an ultrasound technician
  • ultrasound imaging

Learn More about ultrasound

  1. See words that rhyme with ultrasound Spanish Central: Translation of ultrasound Nglish: Translation of ultrasound for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ultrasound for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ultrasound

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