Definition of "stethoscope" [steth•o•scope]

• Any of various instruments used for listening to sounds produced within the body. (noun)

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.

• "Laennec later created a new instrument made from hollow wooden cylinder he called stethoscope, from the Greek words stethos (chest) and skopos (examination)."
• "Steve Perlstein writes, The basic view from behind the stethoscope is that health care would be a whole lot better if only the docs were given free rein to treat their patients, organize their practices, run the hospitals and set their own fees …."
• "That dramatic boardroom stethoscope is beginning to engender irrational hatred."