plastination

noun

plas·​ti·​na·​tion ˌpla-stə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce plastination (audio)
: a technique for the preservation of biological tissue that involves replacing water and fat in tissue with a polymer (such as silicone or polyester) to produce a dry durable specimen for anatomical study

Examples of plastination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The displays are created using the plastination process, invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977. Marcy De Luna, Houston Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2020 The experts said plastination, which is a way of preserving entire human bodies, should require separate consent because the preservation is more permanent and the bodies are often publicly displayed. Stephanie Innes, azcentral, 19 July 2019 According to its website, Body Worlds is an educational exhibition that showcases real human bodies that have been preserved through the process of plastination. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 18 June 2018 Body Worlds bills itself as the world’s first public display of human plastination. Jennifer Swann, Los Angeles Magazine, 15 Jan. 2018 Although his work might seem strange today, consider Bodyworlds and other modern exhibits that use plastination to preserve slices of human cadavers for the entertainment (and edification?) of the general public. Kat Eschner, Smithsonian, 28 Mar. 2017 The famed scientist invented plastination, which is the process of preserving a specimen by replacing its water and fat content with different plastics. Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian, 21 July 2017 Daniel Engber (@danengber) wrote about the inventor of body plastination in issue 21.02. Daniel Engber, WIRED, 18 Nov. 2014 Although his work might seem strange today, consider Bodyworlds and other modern exhibits that use plastination to preserve slices of human cadavers for the entertainment (and edification?) of the general public. Kat Eschner, Smithsonian, 28 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary plastic + -ination (as in calcination)

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plastination was in 1981

Dictionary Entries Near plastination

Cite this Entry

“Plastination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plastination. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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