amputate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To cut off, to prune.
  2. To surgically remove a part of the body, especially a limb.

Pronunciation

/ˈæmpjʊteɪt/ en-us-amputate.ogg

Word forms

amputate amputates amputating amputated

Etymology

From Latin amputō (“prune, cut away”). The original sense of pruning (a tree, etc.) became obsolete. The OED considers uses related to anything other than an animal limb to be figurative uses of the modern sense.

Related words

Derived words

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