prosthesis

[ pros-thee-sis pros-thuh-sis ]

noun

, plural pros·the·ses [pros-, thee, -seez, pros, -th, uh, -seez].

1. a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body.
2. Grammar, Prosody. the addition of one or more sounds or syllables to a word or line of verse, especially at the beginning.

prosthesis

/ ˈprɒsθɪsɪs; prɒsˈθiːsɪs; prɒsˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. surgery
   1. the replacement of a missing bodily part with an artificial substitute
   2. an artificial part such as a limb, eye, or tooth
2. linguistics another word for prothesis

prosthesis

/ prŏs-thē′sĭs /

, Plural prostheses prŏs-thē′sēz

1. An artificial device used to replace a missing or defective body part, such as a limb or a heart valve.

Derived Forms

• prosthetic, adjective
• prosˈthetically, adverb

Other Words From

• pros·thet·ic [pros-, thet, -ik], adjective
• pros·theti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosthesis¹

1545–55; < Late Latin < Greek prósthesis a putting to, addition, equivalent to prós to + thésis a placing; thesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosthesis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: an addition, from prostithenai to add, from pros- towards + tithenai to place

Example Sentences

Flying to space won’t be easy—and flying to space with a prosthesis, something no one has done before, will make things more challenging still.

From Time

Most amputations sever the muscle pairs that control joints such as the elbow or ankle, disrupting the sensory feedback about the limb’s position in space that would help patients control a prosthesis.

From MIT Technology Review

Other researchers also are testing ways to add tactile feedback to prostheses.

From Science News

Even after the people had used the prosthesis for more than a year, the mismatch didn’t improve.

From Science News

Already, implanted electrodes can record signals from the movement areas of the brain, allowing people to control robotic prostheses.

From Science News