Origin: Latin suffix -ure
Acupuncture has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
treatment of pain or disease by inserting the tips of needles at specific points on the skin
"The doctor recommended acupuncture to treat her chronic back pain by inserting thin needles into specific points along her spine."
The insertion of needles into the (living) tissue of the body, especially for purposes of pain relief.
"Many people turn to acupuncture as a natural remedy to alleviate chronic back pain by inserting fine needles into specific points on their skin."
In plain English: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body to help relieve pain or illness.
"She decided to try acupuncture for her chronic back pain."
Usage: Acupuncture refers specifically to the practice of inserting thin needles into specific points on the skin or muscle to relieve pain and other ailments. It is often confused with acupressure, which uses finger pressure instead of needles but follows similar traditional principles.
To treat with acupuncture.
"The doctor decided to treat her chronic back pain by treating with acupuncture."
In plain English: To perform acupuncture is to use thin needles on specific points of your body to help relieve pain or treat illness.
"The doctor decided to acupuncture my sore back after other treatments failed."