su·ture (sū'chər)
n.

1. 1. The process of joining two surfaces or edges together along a line by or as if by sewing.
   2. The material, such as thread, gut, or wire, that is used in this procedure.
   3. The line or stitch so formed.
2. Medicine.
   1. The fine thread or other material used surgically to close a wound or join tissues.
   2. The stitch so formed.
3. Anatomy. The line of junction or an immovable joint between two bones, especially of the skull.
4. Biology. A seamlike joint or line of articulation, such as the line of dehiscence in a dry fruit or the spiral seam marking the junction of whorls of a gastropod shell.

tr.v., -tured, -tur·ing, -tures.
To join by means of sutures or a suture.

[Middle English, from Latin sūtūra, from sūtus, past participle of suere, to sew.]

sutural su'tur·al adj.
suturally su'tur·al·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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