Phrase guide

smear test

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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A screening test to detect pre-cancerous 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

a method of examining stained cells in a cervical smear for early diagnosis of uterine cancer

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Pap test, Papanicolaou test

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: diagnostic test, diagnostic assay

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: uitstrijkje — gynaecology: screening test
  • Finnish: irtosolukoe — gynaecology: screening test
  • French: frottis — gynaecology: screening test