LOBOTOMY Definition & Meaning

lobotomy

[ luh-bot-uh-mee, loh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Surgery.

plural lobotomies.

the operation of cutting into a lobe, as of the brain or the lung.
prefrontal lobotomy.

lobotomy

/ ��əʊˈ��ɒ��ə��ɪ /

noun

a surgical incision into a lobe of any organ
Also calledprefrontal leucotomy a surgical interruption of one or more nerve tracts in the frontal lobe of the brain: used in the treatment of intractable mental disorders

lobotomy

/ ��ə-��ŏ��′ə-��ŧ /

Surgical incision into the frontal lobe of the brain to sever one or more nerve tracts, a technique formerly used to treat certain psychiatric disorders but now rarely performed.

lobotomy

A surgical incision into one or more of the nerve masses in the front of the brain . A lobotomy may be performed for the relief of certain mental disorders, although it has been largely abandoned in favor of less radical treatments.

Discover More

Notes

Because people who have had a lobotomy often become quite passive after the operation, the term is often used to refer to someone who shows a lack of response or reaction: “She was so tired she just sat there as if she had been lobotomized.”

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of lobotomy¹

C20: from lobe + -tomy

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The history of lobotomy is such that no one would want to be associated with reckless brain surgery.

From

And to do that, you had to have a “frontal lobotomy” said Mr Brilliant.

From

They say the only cure for heartbreak is time, although a lobotomy might be more effective.

From

After the column ran, Microsoft gave Bing a lobotomy, neutralizing Sydney’s outbursts and installing new guardrails to prevent more unhinged behavior.

From

“It’s interesting if you go back in history, the way to treat mental illness 50 to 100 years ago was a lobotomy,” he said.

From

Browse