Coined in French from Greek bios 'life' + opsis 'sight,' literally 'seeing life'—examining living tissue.
A medical procedure in which a sample of tissue is taken from the body for examination to determine the presence or extent of disease.
Coined by French dermatologist Ernest Besnier in 1879 from Greek bios 'life' + opsis 'sight, appearance.' The word literally means 'seeing life'—examining living tissue. Entered English medical literature by 1895. Key roots: *gʷeyh₃- (Proto-Indo-European: "to live"), *h₃ekʷ- (Proto-Indo-European: "to see").