catheter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “catheter” mean?
A thin, flexible tube inserted into the body to drain fluids or administer medication.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin, flexible tube inserted into the body to drain fluids or administer medication.
Any slender tube used in medical or scientific procedures to access, drain, or introduce substances into a body cavity, vessel, or duct. In engineering, can refer to similar tube-like devices used for non-medical purposes (e.g., in fluid systems).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral medical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “catheter” in a Sentence
to insert/place a catheter in/into [body part]to have a catheter fittedthe catheter was removed from [patient]a catheter for [purpose, e.g., drainage]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “catheter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient will need to be catheterised prior to the lengthy surgery.
- They decided to catheterise the bladder to monitor output.
American English
- The patient needed to be catheterized before the long surgery.
- They catheterized the vessel to inject the dye.
adverb
British English
- The tube was inserted catheter-first.
- N/A
American English
- The device was advanced catheter-first.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The catheter bag needs emptying.
- There was a catheter-related infection.
American English
- The catheter bag needs to be emptied.
- We're monitoring for catheter-associated UTIs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might occur in pharmaceutical/medical device company reports.
Academic
Common in medical, nursing, and biomedical engineering literature.
Everyday
Used when discussing personal or family medical procedures.
Technical
The primary register. Precise term in clinical settings, surgery, urology, cardiology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catheter”
- Mispronunciation: /kəˈθiːtə/ (incorrect). Confusing 'catheter' with 'cannula' (a catheter is more general). Using 'catheter' to refer to large, rigid tubes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While urinary catheters are common, catheters are also used in blood vessels (vascular catheters), the heart (cardiac catheters), and other body cavities.
Yes, the verb forms are 'catheterise' (UK) / 'catheterize' (US), meaning to insert a catheter.
The Foley catheter, a type of indwelling urinary catheter, is one of the most frequently used in hospital settings.
Insertion can be uncomfortable, but it is usually not severely painful, especially with proper lubrication and technique. Ongoing sensation varies among individuals.
A thin, flexible tube inserted into the body to drain fluids or administer medication.
Catheter is usually medical/technical in register.
Catheter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæθ.ɪ.tə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæθ.ɪ.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on a catheter”
- “catheterised”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A CATHeter is like a thin, flexible PATHway into the body (CATH sounds like 'path').
Conceptual Metaphor
A TUNNEL or CONDUIT for fluids; A MEDICAL PIPELINE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'catheter' most precisely and frequently used?