/ ˌæmniəʊsenˈtiːsɪs; NAmE -nioʊ-/ noun
[ U , sing. ] a medical test that involves taking some liquid from a pregnant woman's womb in order to find out if the baby has particular illnesses or health problems
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WORD ORIGIN
1950s: from amnion (mid 17th cent.: from Greek , caul , diminutive of amnos lamb) + Greek kentēsis pricking (from kentein to prick).