craniotomy

C3R1A1N1I1O1T1O1M3Y4

noun

The surgical procedure for removing a part of the skull, called a bone flap, prior to a treatment. The bone flap is replaced at the end of the operation.

OriginAncient Greek τέμνω (témnō) ← Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- ← English cranio- →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nouncraniotomy (plural craniotomies)

plural craniotomies

  1. medicineThe surgical procedure for removing a part of the skull, called a bone flap, prior to a treatment. The bone flap is replaced at the end of the operation.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱer-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱerh₂-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*ḱérh₂sō
  4. Proto-Hellenic*kárahə
  5. Ancient Greek*κρᾱν- (*krān-)
  6. Ancient Greekκρᾱνῐ́ον (krānĭ́on)
  7. Medieval Latincrānium
  8. Englishcranio-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*temh₁-
  10. Ancient Greekτέμνω (témnō)
  11. Englishcraniotomy

From cranio- + -tomy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic حج القحف
  • حج القحف (hija alqahf)surgical procedure
Chinese Mandarin 开颅手术
  • 开颅手术 (kāi lú shǒushù)surgical procedure
Dutch craniotomie
  • craniotomiesurgical procedure
Finnish kraniotomia
  • kraniotomiasurgical procedure
French craniotomie
  • craniotomiesurgical procedure
German Kraniektomie
  • Kraniektomiesurgical procedure
Greek κρανιοτομή
  • κρανιοτομή (kraniotomí)surgical procedure
Italian craniotomia
  • craniotomiasurgical procedure
Japanese 開頭
  • 開頭 (kaitō)surgical procedure
Polish kraniotomia
  • kraniotomiasurgical procedure
Portuguese craniotomia
  • craniotomiasurgical procedure
Romanian craniotomie
  • craniotomiesurgical procedure
Spanish craneotomía
  • craneotomíasurgical procedure
Turkish kraniotomi
  • kraniotomisurgical procedure
Cite this entry
APA

craniotomy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/craniotomy

MLA

“craniotomy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/craniotomy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “craniotomy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/craniotomy.

Source: craniotomy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.