AUSCULTATION

auscultation

(noun) listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

auscultation (countable and uncountable, plural auscultations)

(medicine) Diagnosis of disorders by listening to the sounds of the internal organs, usually using a stethoscope.

Source: Wiktionary

Aus`cul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. ausculcatio, fr. auscultare to listen, fr. a dim. of auris, orig. ausis, ear. See Auricle, and cf. Scout, n.]

1. The act of listening or hearkening to. Hickes.

2. (Med.)

Definition: An examination by listening either directly with the ear (immediate auscultation) applied to parts of the body, as the abdomen; or with the stethoscope (mediate ~), in order to distinguish sounds recognized as a sign of health or of disease.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition