cutaneous

IPA/kjuˈteɪniəs/
KK[kjˌutˈenˌiəs]IPA/kjuˈteɪniəs/

cutaneous — adjective

  • cutaneouspositive
  • more cutaneouscomparative
  • most cutaneoussuperlative

1. involving, affecting, or located on the skin — a term used mainly in medical and

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

involving, affecting, or located on the skin — a term used mainly in medical and biological contexts

Example

Dr. Okonkwo diagnosed the patient with a cutaneous infection on her forearm.

cutaneous + infection (medical collocation)

The cutaneous reaction to the new cream appeared within two hours.

cutaneous + reaction

Common collocations
  • cutaneous infection
  • cutaneous manifestation
  • cutaneous anthrax
Synonyms
  • dermal

    refers specifically to the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the outer surface; 'cutaneous' is broader

  • epidermal

    refers only to the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in medical and scientific writing. In everyday English, people say 'skin rash' or 'skin condition' rather than 'cutaneous rash' or 'cutaneous condition.'

Common Mistakes

He had a cutaneous on his arm.
He had a cutaneous infection on his arm.
'cutaneous' is an adjective and must be followed by a noun; it cannot stand alone.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Cutaneous is the broadest medical term for anything involving the skin. Dermal is more specific — it refers to the dermis, the thick middle layer beneath the outer surface, so dermal fillers are injected into that layer, not just anywhere on the skin. Epidermal narrows further to the outermost layer (the epidermis), as in epidermal cells or epidermal damage from sunburn. Subcutaneous means 'under the skin' — subcutaneous injections go into the fat layer below. In everyday speech, none of these are common; 'skin' used as a noun modifier (skin cream, skin doctor) is the natural choice.

dermal ↗epidermal ↗subcutaneous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cutaneous infection
  • cutaneous reaction
  • cutaneous disease
  • cutaneous anthrax
  • cutaneous manifestation

Etymology

LatinNew LatinEnglish

Borrowed into English in the late 16th century from New Latin 'cutaneus,' which was formed from the Latin noun 'cutis' meaning 'skin.' The same Latin root also appears in 'subcutaneous' (under the skin) and the rare noun 'cutis' still used in anatomy.

First known use

1578

1578, in the meaning defined above