speculum
noun
spec·u·lum
| \ ˈspe-kyə-ləm
\
\
plural specula\ ˈspe-kyə-lə
\
also speculums
\
also speculums
Definition of speculum
1
: an instrument inserted into a body passage especially to facilitate visual inspection or medication
2
: a drawing or table showing the relative positions of all the planets (as in an astrological nativity)
3
: a patch of color on the secondaries of most ducks and some other birds
Examples of speculum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More: Lara Williams' 'Supper Club' is gluttonous, messy, nasty and loud — and unapologetic James Marion Sims (1813-1883) refined the speculum and is credited with making the first women’s hospital. — Delfina V Barbiero, USA TODAY, "'Everything Below the Waist' tackles history, shortcomings of women's health care," 17 July 2019 Specifically, by grabbing a mirror and speculum and viewing their cervixes for the first time. — Delfina V Barbiero, USA TODAY, "'Everything Below the Waist' tackles history, shortcomings of women's health care," 17 July 2019 Former colleagues had questioned his methods of pelvic exams, specifically, his practice of digital insertion before using a speculum. — CBS News, "Ex-longtime USC gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall had gun when arrested on sex assault charges, police say," 27 June 2019 The good news is that speculums come in several different lengths and widths. — Jessica Wakeman, SELF, "Ob/Gyns Share 11 Ways to Make a Pap Smear Easier on You and Your Vagina," 11 Jan. 2019 Once the speculum is in place, your doctor will use a swab to collect some cells from your cervix and send them to the lab. — Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "Does A Pap Smear Hurt?!," 29 Jan. 2019 The speculum meant not touching with your hand, but with an object. — Daniela Blei, The Atlantic, "Women Are Redesigning the Dreaded Speculum," 8 Mar. 2018 While the speculum is inserted, your doctor will use a soft brush or a flat scraping device to take samples for your Pap test and to test for certain STIs. — Kristin Canning, SELF, "10 Things to Know Before Your First Gyno Exam," 24 Apr. 2018 For critics in the medical community, the speculum compromised a woman’s morality. — Daniela Blei, The Atlantic, "Women Are Redesigning the Dreaded Speculum," 8 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'speculum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for speculum
speculum
noun
spec·u·lum
| \ ˈspek-yə-ləm
\
\
plural specula\ -lə
\
also speculums
\
also speculums
Medical Definition of speculum
: any of various instruments for insertion into a body passage to facilitate visual inspection or medication
a vaginal speculum