colposcope

[ kol-puh-skohp ]

noun

1. an instrument that magnifies the cells of the cervix and vagina to permit direct observation and study of the living tissue.

colposcope

/ kɒlpəˈskəʊpɪ; ˈkɒlpəˌskəʊp /

noun

1. an instrument for examining the uterine cervix, esp for early signs of cancer

Derived Forms

• colposcopy, noun

Other Words From

• col·po·scop·ic [kol-p, uh, -, skop, -ik], adjective
• col·pos·co·pist [kol-, pos, -k, uh, -pist], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of colposcope¹

1935–40; < Greek kólp ( os ) womb, vagina + -o- + -scope

Word History and Origins

Origin of colposcope¹

C20: from colpo- + -scope

Example Sentences

Taking a break from a recent busy morning in the emergency department, nurse Lindee Miller rolled out the mobile teleSANE cart and colposcope device from Avel eCare.

From Seattle Times

A positive result also leads to further procedures, typically a biopsy involving a colposcope, a viewing instrument that magnifies the cervix.

From New York Times

A team from Duke University in North Carolina had used machine learning to detect cervical cancer automatically using a pocket colposcope, to the same level of accuracy as a human expert.

From Economist

It’s a smartphone-fitted colposcope aimed at developing countries like Kenya, Rwanda and Haiti, desperate for cheap ways of detecting cervical cancer, a major killer in these places.

From Wall Street Journal

MobileOCT’s mobile colposcope consists of hardware that attaches to the phone, and a software app that uploads photos and accompanying data to a database for further examination.

From Wall Street Journal