verb (used with object), mortified, mortifying. 1. to humiliate or shame, as by injury to one's pride or self-respect. 2. to subjugate (the body, passions, etc.) by abstinence, ascetic discipline, or self-inflicted suffering. 3. Pathology. to affect with gangrene or necrosis. verb (used without object), mortified, mortifying.
spinal tap noun. plural spinal taps. spinal tap. noun. plural spinal taps. Learner's definition of SPINAL TAP. [count] medical. : a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal cord in order to take out fluid or inject medicine.
A Dr. Darshan N. Shah, MD , Neurology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem. Spinal tap (aka lumbar puncture) is used to examine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to exclude other types of infections and inflammation which can cause symptoms similar to Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).