perfuse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “perfuse” mean?
To cause a liquid, especially blood, to flow through or over something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause a liquid, especially blood, to flow through or over something.
To supply or cover something liberally with a liquid; to suffuse or permeate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally technical/formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general usage; slightly more frequent in American medical literature due to volume of publications.
Grammar
How to Use “perfuse” in a Sentence
[Subject] perfuses [Object] with [Liquid][Subject] is perfused by/with [Liquid]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “perfuse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon needed to perfuse the donor kidney with a cold preservation solution.
- The experiment required them to perfuse the tissue sample with a fluorescent dye.
American English
- The protocol states to perfuse the liver with heparinized saline prior to transplant.
- Researchers perfused the coronary arteries to study blood flow dynamics.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
adjective
British English
- The poorly perfused limb showed signs of ischemia.
- Adequately perfused tissue has a healthy, pink appearance.
American English
- The perfused organ was maintained on a machine for several hours.
- They analyzed the perfused capillary network under a microscope.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and chemical research papers (e.g., 'The isolated heart was perfused with a saline solution.').
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound overly technical.
Technical
Core term in medicine and physiology (e.g., 'well-perfused myocardium', 'machine-perfused liver').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perfuse”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The blood perfuses' is rare; usually 'The organ is perfused with blood').
- Confusing with 'infuse' (to put in) vs. 'perfuse' (to force through).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, technical term primarily used in medical and scientific contexts.
The related noun is 'perfusion', as in 'cardiac perfusion scan'.
Rarely. It can be used poetically or in very formal writing to mean 'suffuse' (e.g., 'light perfused the room'), but this is uncommon.
'Infuse' generally means to introduce or soak something *into* a substance (e.g., infuse herbs in oil). 'Perfuse' emphasizes causing a liquid to flow *through* or *over* something, often under pressure.
To cause a liquid, especially blood, to flow through or over something.
Perfuse is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Perfuse: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈfjuːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /pərˈfjuz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PERfume being sprayed to cover an area; PERfuse is to cover or supply an area with liquid.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID IS A COVERING / SUPPLYING IS FLOWING
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'perfuse' MOST appropriately used?