Tongue Depressor

Pronunciation: /tʌŋ dɪˈprɛsər/

Definitions of tongue depressor

noun a small medical tool used to hold down the tongue during a physical examination or medical procedure

Example Sentences

A1 The doctor used a tongue depressor to check my throat.

A2 During the medical examination, the nurse handed me a tongue depressor to open my mouth.

B1 Dentists often use tongue depressors to help examine their patients' mouths.

B2 The nurse grabbed a tongue depressor to help the doctor perform the throat examination.

C1 The medical assistant sterilized the tongue depressor before using it on the patient.

C2 The doctor carefully moved the tongue depressor around the patient's mouth to get a better view of the tonsils.

Examples of tongue depressor in a Sentence

formal The doctor used a tongue depressor to examine the patient's throat.

informal The nurse handed me a tongue depressor to check my own throat.

slang I grabbed a tongue depressor to see if I had strep throat.

figurative His words felt like a tongue depressor, probing into my deepest thoughts.

Grammatical Forms of tongue depressor

• past tense: used
• plural: tongue depressors
• comparative: more tongue depressor
• superlative: most tongue depressor
• present tense: use
• future tense: will use
• perfect tense: have used
• continuous tense: is using
• singular: tongue depressor
• positive degree: tongue depressor
• infinitive: to use
• gerund: using
• participle: used

Origin and Evolution of tongue depressor

First Known Use: 1874 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'tongue depressor' originated from the medical practice of using a tool to hold down the tongue for examination or medical procedures.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe a tool specifically designed for depressing the tongue, the term 'tongue depressor' has evolved to encompass a variety of flat sticks or blades used in medical and dental practices for various purposes.