tongue depressor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyProfessional, Medical
Quick answer
What does “tongue depressor” mean?
A thin, flat, usually wooden stick used by medical professionals to press down on a patient's tongue to examine the mouth and throat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin, flat, usually wooden stick used by medical professionals to press down on a patient's tongue to examine the mouth and throat.
Any flat, blade-like object used to hold the tongue down for examination, now also commonly made of plastic or metal. Informally, the term can be used for similar-shaped objects in other contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical and standard in both varieties. No significant lexical differences.
Connotations
Strongly associated with medical examinations and clinical settings in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, used almost exclusively in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “tongue depressor” in a Sentence
The doctor used a tongue depressor [to examine the patient's throat].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in general business contexts. Only relevant in the business of medical supplies.
Academic
Used in medical, dental, and nursing academic literature and training.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of describing a medical visit. Parents might use the term when describing a child's check-up.
Technical
Standard term in clinical medicine, otolaryngology, dentistry, and general practice.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tongue depressor”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tongue depressor”
- Misspelling as 'tongue *depresser*'.
- Confusing it with a 'throat swab' or 'cotton bud'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often similar in shape and material, but tongue depressors used in medicine are specifically manufactured to be sterile and smooth to prevent injury.
In modern medical practice, disposable tongue depressors are the norm for hygiene reasons. Reusable ones (e.g., metal) require sterilisation between patients.
Because its function is to 'depress' or press down the tongue.
Yes, dentists and dental hygienists use them to examine the oral cavity, though they may also use specialised dental mirrors and probes.
A thin, flat, usually wooden stick used by medical professionals to press down on a patient's tongue to examine the mouth and throat.
Tongue depressor is usually professional, medical in register.
Tongue depressor: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʌŋ dɪˌprɛsə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʌŋ dɪˌprɛsər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DEPRESS' means to press down. A tongue DEPRESSOR presses down your TONGUE.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR REVEALING (it depresses the tongue to reveal the throat).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'tongue depressor' primarily used for?