French

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Etymology

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From tétra- +‎ Latin pilus +‎ -ectomie, a mock-scientific reformation of couper les cheveux en quatre. Coined by Umberto Eco.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /te.tʁa.pi.lɛk.tɔ.mi/
  • Audio (Paris):(file)

Noun

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tétrapilectomie f (plural tétrapilectomies)

  1. (humorous) splitting hairs