The surgical removal of something. For example, a lumpectomy is the surgical excision of a lump which may be benign or not, tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils, a partial colectomy is removal of part of the colon, an appendectomy is removal of the appendix, etc. From the Greek “ek” (out) + “tome” (a cutting) = a cutting out.
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ec·to·my (ekґtə-me) [Gr. ektomē excision, from ektemnein to cut out] excision or resection.