Suture: meaning, definitions and examples

Primarily used in medical contexts to describe the stitches used to close a wound or surgical incision.

• The surgeon used a fine suture to close the surgical wound.
• After the operation, the nurse carefully removed the sutures once the wound had healed.

Can be used in both medical and non-medical contexts. Refers to the individual loop of thread used in sewing or suturing. In non-medical contexts, it can also refer to pain or discomfort often felt in the side during exercise.

• He put a stitch in his pants to repair the tear.
• The doctor used a few stitches to close the small cut.
• After running for several miles, she felt a sharp stitch in her side.

Used in tailoring and manufacturing to refer to the line where two pieces of fabric are stitched together.

• The seam of his shirt began to unravel after several washes.
• She carefully sewed the seam to ensure there were no gaps.

Can refer to the act of closing something or the state of being closed. Often used in a broader context, not limited to medical scenarios.

• The closure of the road caused major traffic delays.
• She sought closure after the end of her long-term relationship.

Best used in medical and anatomical contexts to refer to the surgical stitching or joining of tissue, typically skin. It can also refer to the seams in the skull where the bones join.

• She needed several sutures to close the cut on her arm.
• The surgeon carefully sutured the wound to ensure minimal scarring.

Typically used to describe a point where two bones meet and allow movement in the body. It can also refer to a connection between two pieces of material or, in informal contexts, a place, especially a bar or restaurant. In slang, it can mean a marijuana cigarette (negative connotation).

• He has pain in his knee joint.
• The carpenter made a strong joint to connect the two pieces of wood.
• We decided to grab a meal at the local joint down the street.
• He was caught with a joint and might face legal trouble.

Commonly used to refer to the clarity and precision in speaking or the way in which separate things are joined to create a coordinated movement. Also used to describe joints in the body that allow movement.

• Her clear articulation made the speech very compelling.
• The articulation of the machinery parts was essential for its smooth operation.
• Studying the articulation of the knee joints helps understand human locomotion.