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perfuse

American  
[per-fyooz] / pərˈfyuz /

verb (used with object)

perfused, perfusing
  1. to overspread with moisture, color, etc.; suffuse.

  2. to diffuse (a liquid, color, etc.) through or over something.

  3. Surgery. to pass (fluid) through blood vessels or the lymphatic system.


perfuse British  
/ pəˈfjuːz /

verb

  1. to suffuse or permeate (a liquid, colour, etc) through or over (something)

  2. surgery to pass (a fluid) through organ tissue to ensure adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon monoxide

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • perfused adjective
  • perfusion noun
  • perfusionist noun
  • perfusive adjective

Etymology

Origin of perfuse

1520–30; < Latin perfūsus, past participle of perfundere to drench, flood. See per-, fuse 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The system uses a blood-derived solution to perfuse the organs and has a hemofilter to remove toxins.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

I was in hemorrhagic shock, a state in which oxygen-carrying blood can’t adequately perfuse the body’s vital organs.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2023

He could fix the brain’s structure in place with chemicals first, just as Dr. Mikula was doing, buying time to perfuse the cryoprotectant more slowly to avoid dehydration.

From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2015

The networking of common devices that surround and perfuse our society is rapidly becoming reality.

From Scientific American • Jul. 22, 2014

But the chap to the ‘Green Man’s’ that perfuse wi’ his liquor at seasons of rejoicing.

From Children of the Mist by Phillpotts, Eden