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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.
"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."

How to Use Amputate

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

amputated past tense, amputates singular

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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.

Origin: Latin

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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