verb
castrate
kas-TRAYT
verb
1
To surgically remove the testicles (or, in females, the ovaries) of an animal or person.
"The vet recommended they castrate the young bull."
2
To weaken something drastically, stripping it of its power or effectiveness.
"Critics said the new amendment would castrate the original bill."
How to Use Castrate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo remove reproductive organs, or figuratively, to strip something of its power or force.
Common pairings
castrate an animal
castrate a proposal
Word Forms
castrated past tense, castrates plural, castrates singular
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The vet recommended they _____ the young bull.
Etymology
From Latin castrare, "to prune or cut away."