noun, plural par·a·cen·te·ses [par-uh-sen-tee-seez] /ˌpær ə sɛnˈti siz/. Surgery.
- puncture of the wall of a cavity to drain off fluid.
noun
- med the surgical puncture of a body cavity in order to draw off excess fluid
n.1590s, from medical Latin form of Greek parakentesis “perforation,” from parakentein “to pierce at the side,” from para- “beside” (see para- (1)) + kentein “to prick, stab” (see center (n.)). n.
- Surgical puncture or tapping of a fluid-filled body cavity, especially the abdomen, with a hollow needle or trochar to withdraw fluid.