ultrasound

noun

ul·​tra·​sound ˈəl-trə-ˌsau̇nd 

plural ultrasounds

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, ultrasonography

3

: a diagnostic examination using ultrasound

The patient was scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound.

prenatal ultrasounds

Examples of ultrasound in a Sentence

They used ultrasound to examine his heart.

She had an ultrasound exam this morning.

She had an ultrasound this morning.

She showed me an ultrasound of her unborn baby.

Recent Examples on the Web

The next clip included Otis arriving at Hello My Baby for a 3D ultrasound. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

At the hospital, a midwife, Monica, also measured Evelyn’s uterus and conducted an ultrasound. —Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024

Rachel Fulton was pregnant when an ultrasound showed inadequate fetal development of the nervous system, lower spine, lungs, abdomen, feet and hands, as well as fluid buildup in tissues and organs, the lawsuit states. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Florida clinics anticipated the state's new law so have already trained additional staff to perform ultrasounds and confirm pregnancies. —Katie Mogg, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024

The malignancy was diagnosed during a routine mammogram, and later confirmed with a breast ultrasound. —Lipi Roy, Md, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

In contrast to the giant, expensive truck that the Minnesota group would build, a regular ambulance was outfitted with an ECMO machine that is powered by a hand crank; part of an ultrasound was attached by bungee cord to the truck’s ceiling. —Helen Ouyang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

This product felt and smelled like ultrasound jelly, which was unpleasant. —Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024

Patients are also required to get ultrasounds, even if not medically necessary, and state Medicaid coverage is prohibited, with very limited exceptions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ultrasound

noun

ul·​tra·​sound ˈəl-trə-ˌsau̇nd 

1

: ultrasonic vibrations

2

: the use of ultrasound for medical diagnosis or treatment and especially a technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for examining internal body structures and detecting abnormalities in the body

Medical Definition

ultrasound

1 of 2 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

ultrasound

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, performed by, using, or specializing in ultrasound

an ultrasound technician

ultrasound imaging