intravenous

Everyday

1. Intravenous means going into a vein, the tube that carries blood back to the heart. tree →
2. An intravenous drip or injection gives medicine, food or fluid straight into the blood through a needle in a vein. tree →

In the lessons

A medical word heard in hospitals, on TV dramas and in science lessons about blood. It tells the reader that a patient needs medicine fast or cannot eat or drink. Phrases: «intravenous drip», «intravenous fluids», often shortened to «an IV».

Examples

• The nurse gave her intravenous fluids. tree →
• He had an intravenous drip in his arm. tree →
• Intravenous medicine works quickly. tree →
• The patient was fed by intravenous feeding for a few days. tree →
• Doctors chose an intravenous antibiotic. tree →
• Intravenous means «into a vein». tree →
• The bag of intravenous fluid hung beside the bed. tree →

Note

Built from «intra-» (inside) + «venous» (of veins). Do not mix «intra-» (inside) with «inter-» (between). Short form: IV.