Phrase guide

Pap smear

noun · 3 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A screening test meant to detect precancerous and cancerous cells by taking a sample (‘smear’) of cells from the cervix.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: gynaecology, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative letter-case form of Pap smear.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a sample of secretions and superficial cells of the uterine cervix and uterus; examined with a microscope to detect any abnormal cells

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cervical smear, Papanicolaou smear

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: smear, cytologic smear, cytosmear

History

Etymology

From Papanikolaou + smear. Named after the Greek-American physician Georgios Papanikolaou.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: frotis de Papanicolau — gynaecology: screening test
  • Chinese Mandarin: 子宮頸塗片檢查 /子宫颈涂片检查 (zǐgōngjǐng túpiàn jiǎnchá) — gynaecology: screening test
  • Dutch: uitstrijkje — gynaecology: screening test
  • Finnish: papakoe — gynaecology: screening test
  • French: frottis — gynaecology: screening test
  • German: Pap-Abstrich — gynaecology: screening test
  • Italian: striscio — gynaecology: screening test
  • Japanese: パップテスト (pappu tesuto) — gynaecology: screening test
  • Russian: мазо́к Папаникола́у (mazók Papanikoláu) — gynaecology: screening test
  • Spanish: prueba de Papanicolau — gynaecology: screening test
  • Spanish: papanicolau — gynaecology: screening test
  • Spanish: frotis vaginal — gynaecology: screening test
  • Swedish: gynekologiskt cellprov — gynaecology: screening test
  • Swedish: papaprov — gynaecology: screening test