verb
amputate
AMP-yuu-tayt
Amputate (verb) means to surgically remove all or part of a limb or other body part. Example: “Surgeons had to amputate his leg below the knee after the accident.”
verb
1
To surgically remove all or part of a limb or other body part.
"Several soldiers had limbs amputated after the battle."
"Surgeons had to amputate his leg below the knee after the accident."
"The infection spread so fast that doctors amputated her fingers to save her hand."
"The surgeon had to amputate the patient’s leg to save his life."
How to use amputate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cut off a body part, usually surgically, often to stop the spread of injury or infection.
Common pairings
amputate a limb
forced to amputate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- amputates
- Past tense
- amputated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Surgeons had to _____ his leg below the knee after the accident.
Etymology
From Latin amputare, "to cut away, prune" — originally used for trimming trees before it took on its modern surgical sense.
Synonyms
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cut off
Related words
Rhymes for amputate
See all rhymes for amputate →Frequently asked questions
What does “amputate” mean?
The word “amputate” means to surgically remove all or part of a limb or other body part. In plain terms, to cut off a body part, usually surgically, often to stop the spread of injury or infection.
How do you pronounce “amputate”?
“Amputate” is pronounced AMP-yuu-tayt (/ˈæmpjʊteɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “amputate” in a sentence?
Here is “amputate” used in a sentence: “Surgeons had to amputate his leg below the knee after the accident.”
What part of speech is “amputate”?
“Amputate” is a verb.
Where does the word “amputate” come from?
The word “amputate” comes from Latin. From Latin amputare, "to cut away, prune" — originally used for trimming trees before it took on its modern surgical sense.
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