laceration

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /læsəˈreɪʃən/

Noun 1

Singular laceration

Plural lacerations

1. A wound where the skin or a soft part of the body tears or breaks by a hit or strike. This leaves an open hole (outside the body) or a part of the body moved to the wrong place (inside the body). Lacerations are caused by hard hits (for example, a punch, a brick, a fall, or an automobile crash) and not by sharp hits (for example, a knife).

   Vaginal or rectal lacerations sustained while fisting may lead to serious injury or death.

   He sustained some hideous facial lacerations in that horrific car accident last week. He should not have been driving and texting at the same time!

2. (wrong) A cut.

Noun 2

Singular laceration

Plural none

1. An act that creates a tear.

   A fall from the second floor can cause laceration of the skin, even if it does not break any bones.

Related words

• lacerate