prostate

prostate — noun

1. a male body part about the size of a walnut, located below the bladder, that mak

1.nounB2
Definition

a male body part about the size of a walnut, located below the bladder, that makes a fluid which helps sperm move

Example

After age fifty, the doctor recommended that Henry have his prostate checked regularly.

collocation: have [one's] prostate checked

The scan showed that Hamza's prostate was slightly swollen but nothing to worry about.

Common collocations
  • prostate cancer
  • prostate exam
  • enlarged prostate
  • prostate check
  • prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the + prostate

possessive + prostate

Usage Note

Countable noun, but most commonly used with the definite article ('the prostate') or a possessive ('his prostate'). In Taiwan, the organ is called 攝護腺 (xièhùxiàn); the term 前列腺 (qiánlièxiàn) is more common in China but also understood in Taiwan.

Common Mistakes

He lay prostrate on the bed' (when meaning prostate).
He had his prostate checked.
'prostrate' means lying face down; 'prostate' is a gland inside the body. They sound similar but are unrelated in meaning.

Word family

  • prostatic
    adjectiveC1
  • prostatitis
    nounC2
  • prostatectomy
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Prostate' and 'prostate gland' refer to the same organ and are interchangeable in most contexts. 'Prostate gland' is the full anatomical term and sounds slightly more formal, while 'prostate' alone is more common in everyday medical conversation ('prostate exam', 'prostate cancer'). Both are used with the definite article ('the prostate gland enlarges with age') or as a modifier ('prostate health'). Learners often confuse 'prostate' with 'prostrate' (lying face down), though the two words are unrelated. A doctor might say 'Let me check your prostate,' while a textbook would write 'The prostate gland is located below the bladder.'

prostate ↗prostate gland

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • enlarged prostate
  • prostate-specific antigen

Prepositions

  • of the prostate

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word comes from Greek 'prostatēs' (προστάτης), meaning 'one who stands before' or 'guardian' — because the gland sits in front of the bladder, as if guarding it. The term entered English via Latin 'prostata' in the 17th century.