Obturate

[ɒbtjuәreit]

Definition

v.t. to close or stop up.—ns. Obturā′tion the act of stopping up esp. in gunnery of a hole to prevent the escape of gas; Ob′tūrātor that which stops or closes up as a device of this kind in gunnery &c.: in surgery an artificial plate for closing an abnormal aperture or fissure as with cleft palate &c. or for distending an opening as in lithotomy: any structure that shuts off a cavity or passage esp. in anatomy the membrane vessels &c. closing the obturator foramen or thyroid foramen a large opening or fenestra in the anterior part of the hip-bone.

Typed by Julie