/ˌævˈjuːʒən/ AV-yoo-zhun

Definitions

1. noun

a sudden and violent tearing away of a part of the body, especially a limb, often caused by a severe injury or a medical procedure.

“The patient underwent a surgical avulsion to remove the damaged limb and prevent further infection.”

2. noun

a sudden and violent removal of something, such as a landscape feature or a part of a rock face, often caused by natural forces like erosion or weathering.

“The landslide caused an avulsion of the nearby cliff, creating a new shoreline.”

3. noun

a sudden and violent separation of something, such as a river from its original course.

“The avulsion of the Mississippi River caused widespread flooding in the surrounding areas.”