1. The loss or omission of a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word, as in the formation of 'phone' from 'telephone'.
Usage: linguistics; also spelled 'aphesis'
2. A medical procedure in which blood is drawn from a donor, a specific component is separated and removed, and the remaining blood is returned to the donor.
Usage: medicine; also called 'aphaeresis'

Examples

• The word 'bus' is an example of apheresis, derived from 'omnibus'.
• In linguistics, apheresis is the opposite of apocope, which removes sounds from the end of words.
• The patient underwent apheresis to remove excess platelets from the blood.
• Apheresis is commonly used in blood banks to collect plasma from donors.
• The formation of 'cello' from 'violoncello' demonstrates apheresis in musical terminology.