1. a surgical procedure involving the removal of a circular piece of bone from the skull to relieve pressure or access the brain
Usage: medical
2. an ancient practice of drilling holes in the skull, believed to treat various ailments or release evil spirits
Usage: historical; archaeological

Examples

• The surgeon performed a trephination to relieve the patient’s intracranial pressure.
• Archaeological evidence shows that trephination was practiced in ancient civilizations.
• The medical team used trephination as a last resort to access the brain tumor.
• Ancient skulls with signs of trephination have been found across multiple continents.
• Modern trephination techniques are much safer than historical methods.
• The patient recovered well after the emergency trephination procedure.