scalpel
A scalpel is a small, sharp surgical knife used by doctors and nurses for cutting during operations.
When a doctor or nurse needs to make an incision, they usually use a scalpel. The scalpel has a very thin, pointed blade that's designed specifically for precise cuts. It's not like any other knife you might find at home - it's made of super-sharp metal and is used only for medical procedures. During surgery, the surgeon will carefully hold the scalpel in their hand, cutting through layers of skin or tissue with precision. The scalpel can be used to make small openings in the body, or to carefully dissect damaged tissue. After use, the scalpel is usually discarded, sterilized, and cleaned thoroughly for the next operation.
How common is "scalpel"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
A small straight knife with a very sharp blade used for surgery, dissection and craftwork.
Real examples of "scalpel" in context
