A scalpel is a knife with a short, thin, sharp blade. Scalpels are used by surgeons during operations.
scalpel in British English
(ˈskælpəl)
noun
a surgical knife with a short thin blade
Derived forms
scalpellic (skælˈpɛlɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from Latin scalpellum, from scalper a knife, from scalpere to scrape
scalpel in American English
(ˈskælpəl)
noun
a small, light, straight knife with a very sharp blade, used by surgeons and in anatomical dissections
Word origin
L scalpellum, dim. of scalprum, a knife < scalpere, to cut < IE base *(s)kel- > scale2
Examples of 'scalpel' in a sentence
scalpel
Will the artist take up his scalpel again?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As she takes the scalpel in her hand.
Christianity Today (2000)
But can we be sure the use of a scalpel will not be employed in the future?
The Sun (2009)
He used a scalpel to cut them out, then hid them in his own books.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One uses an old scalpel to rip the right leg of his trousers; there are no scissors left.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But this takes us to arguably the most deplorable aspect of the scandal: the alleged use of the scalpel.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Neither a needle nor a scalpel has been anywhere near A her face.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An energetically wielded editorial scalpel should have removed all this low-lying fruit and made what is an important manifesto as punchy as it deserves to be.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Players are encouraged to wield the scalpel on'problem areas' before resorting to a hand pump to remove the fat.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
scalpel
Medical and surgical instruments and equipment
In other languages
scalpel
British English: scalpel NOUN
A scalpel is a knife with a short, thin, sharp blade.