Meanings
noundialysis (countable and uncountable, plural dialyses)
plural dialyses
- countableuncountablechemistryA method of separating molecules or particles of different sizes by differential diffusion through a semipermeable membrane.
- countableuncountablemedicineThe use of this method for the removal of waste products from the blood in the case of kidney failure: hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.
2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly) - countablerhetoricuncountableThe spelling out of alternatives, or presenting of either-or arguments that lead to a conclusion.
- countablerhetoricuncountableasyndeton.
Origin
- Ancient Greekδιάλυσις
- Latindialysis
- Englishdialysis
From Latin dialysis, from Ancient Greek διάλυσις (diálusis). By surface analysis, dia- + -lysis. First use appears c. 1550.
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic غَسِيل كُلَى
- غَسِيل كُلَى (ḡasīl kulā)medicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Bulgarian диализа, диализа
- диализа (dializa)chemical method
- диализа (dializa)medicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Catalan diàlisi, diàlisi
- diàlisichemical method
- diàlisimedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Chinese Mandarin 透析, 滲析 /渗析
- 透析 (tòuxī)chemical method
- 滲析 /渗析 (shènxī)chemical method
Czech dialýza
- dialýzamedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Finnish dialyysi, dialyysi
- dialyysichemical method
- dialyysimedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
- dialyysirhetoric: spelling out of alternatives, or presenting either-or arguments
French dialyse, dialyse
- dialysechemical method
- dialysemedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
German Dialyse, Dialyse
- Dialysechemical method
- Dialysemedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Greek αιμοκάθαρση
- αιμοκάθαρση (aimokátharsi)medicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Hebrew דיאליזה
- דיאליזהmedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Hungarian dialízis, dialízis
- dialízischemical method
- dialízismedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
- művesekezelésmedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Indonesian dialisis, dialisis
- dialisischemical method
- dialisismedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
- cuci darahmedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Italian dialisi, dialisi
- dialisichemical method
- dialisimedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Japanese 透析
- 透析 (tōseki)chemical method
Latin dialysis
- dialysischemical method
Malay dialisis, dialisis
- dialisischemical method
- dialisismedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Russian диа́лиз
- диа́лиз (diáliz)chemical method
Spanish diálisis, diálisis
- diálisischemical method
- diálisismedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Turkish diyaliz
- diyalizmedicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Ukrainian діа́ліз, діа́ліз
- діа́ліз (diáliz)chemical method
- діа́ліз (diáliz)medicine: artificial removal of waste products from the blood
Cite this entry
APA
dialysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialysis
MLA
“dialysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialysis. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dialysis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialysis.
Source: dialysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.