Standard Lemma guide

clyster

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈklɪstə/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈklɪstɚ/
  • rhymes with -ɪstə(ɹ)

1

noun

Meaning 1

A medicine applied via the rectum; an enema or suppository.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an injection of a liquid through the anus to stimulate evacuation; sometimes used for diagnostic purposes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: enema

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: irrigation

Narrower terms: colonic irrigation, colonic, barium enema

History

Etymology

From Middle French clystere, or its Latin source, in turn from Ancient Greek κλυστήρ (klustḗr).