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Definition of "acupuncture" []

  • A procedure used in or adapted from Chinese medical practice in which specific body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes or to relieve pain or produce regional anesthesia. (noun)
  • To subject to acupuncture. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "acupuncture" in a sentence
  • "Another report claims the term acupuncture was coined by Dr. Willliam Ten Rhyne."
  • "The word acupuncture was coined by French Jesuits from the Latin acus (needle) and punctura (puncture)."
  • "There are numerous references to the origin of the word acupuncture."