Suture
noun / verb /ˈsuː.tʃər/ — A stitch or row of stitches closing a wound
Definition
A stitch or series of stitches used to close a wound or surgical incision — holding the edges of cut tissue together while they heal. Also: a fixed joint between bones, particularly in the skull.
Beyond the definition
Suture is one of medicine's most intimate acts — holding together what has been separated, giving the body the time it needs to knit itself back. Used metaphorically: any act that holds together what has been torn.
Origin & history
Latin: sutura (a seam), from suere (to sew). The word holds the metaphor of sewing directly — the wound closed as fabric is closed, held by thread until it heals.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The surgeon placed twelve sutures — each one a small act of faith that the body would knit.
The sutures were removed two weeks later. The scar would remain.
Some wounds cannot be sutured. They heal from the inside out, slowly, on their own schedule.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Suture” when the meaning fits your context: A stitch or series of stitches used to close a wound or surgical incision — holding the edges of cut tissue together while they heal. Also: a fixed joint between bones, particularly in the skull.
Synonyms
stitch, wound closure
Antonyms
incision, wound
Related words
Suture vs stitch
Suture is the medical term for the material used to close a wound. Stitch is the everyday term for the action or the resulting closure.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Balanced Composition of Parts
An adult in a minimalist room arranges three simple objects on a wooden tray.
The careful arrangement of objects to create a unified whole mirrors the function of a suture. Just as stitches hold together the edges of a wound to promote healing, curation holds together disparate elements to create a unified, functional aesthetic effect.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Suture" mean?
Suture is noun / verb meaning: A stitch or row of stitches closing a wound. A stitch or series of stitches used to close a wound or surgical incision — holding the edges of cut tissue together while they heal. Also: a fixed joint between bones, particularly in the skull.
Where does the word "Suture" come from?
Latin: sutura (a seam), from suere (to sew). The word holds the metaphor of sewing directly — the wound closed as fabric is closed, held by thread until it heals.