prosthesis

noun
pros·​the·​sis | \ präs-ˈthē-səs How to pronounce prosthesis (audio) , ˈpräs-thə-\
plural prostheses\ präs-​ˈthē-​ˌsēz How to pronounce prostheses (audio) , ˈpräs-​thə-​ \

Definition of prosthesis

: an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body

Examples of prosthesis in a Sentence

She was fitted with a prosthesis to replace her missing leg.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yeslie Aranda left his Venezuelan hometown of San Cristobal in the southwestern state of Táchira last year with a backpack, $30 in his pocket and an aluminum prosthesis that enabled him to negotiate the continent’s rugged roads. Washington Post, "Venezuelan man makes ‘one-legged’ trek across South America," 19 Aug. 2019 He was then forced to confront the then-abysmal state of wood and plastic prostheses. Patrick Lucas Austin, Time, "Why TIME's 2019 Tech Optimists Are Upbeat About Silicon Valley's Future," 7 Aug. 2019 The prosthesis returns function and feeling to its users by signaling the nervous system via peripheral nerve stimulation, a process that utilizes an aspirin-sized implant to deliver sensory information and feedback to LUKE. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, "The Star Wars-Inspired Robotic Arm That Gives Amputees a Sense of Touch," 26 July 2019 Caveats This kind of prosthesis is not just expensive—George estimates the per-unit cost at somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000—it is not even available yet. Jeffrey Delviscio, Scientific American, "A Robot Hand Helps Amputees “Feel” Again," 24 July 2019 And there is one, in particular, who works today with prostheses for people who are injured, people who have been horribly disfigured by some sort of a scenario. CBS News, "Transcript: Jonna Mendez talks with Michael Morell on "Intelligence Matters"," 5 June 2019 Unlike traditional prostheses, Herr’s legs move naturally thanks to an array of sensors and microprocessors combined with a carbon fiber spring adding force to every step. Patrick Lucas Austin, Time, "Why TIME's 2019 Tech Optimists Are Upbeat About Silicon Valley's Future," 7 Aug. 2019 Trainer will soon move from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility to learn how to use prostheses. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, "A woman lost her hands and legs to an infection from puppy kisses," 4 Aug. 2019 Mobius Bionics and the University of Utah have built a revolutionary prosthesis that returns the sense of touch to amputees. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, "The Star Wars-Inspired Robotic Arm That Gives Amputees a Sense of Touch," 26 July 2019

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

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First Known Use of prosthesis

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for prosthesis

New Latin, from Greek, addition, from prostithenai to add to, from pros- in addition to + tithenai to put — more at pros-, do

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More Definitions for prosthesis

prosthesis

noun

English Language Learners Definition of prosthesis

medical : an artificial device that replaces a missing or injured part of the body

prosthesis

noun
pros·​the·​sis | \ präs-ˈthē-səs, ˈpräs-thə- How to pronounce prosthesis (audio) \
plural prostheses\ -​ˌsēz How to pronounce prostheses (audio) \

Medical Definition of prosthesis

: an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body a dental prosthesis silicone breast and limb prostheses

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