English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb

extirpate

Extirpate (verb) means to clear an area of roots and stumps.

verb
1
To clear an area of roots and stumps.
2
To pull up by the roots; uproot.
3
To destroy completely; to annihilate.
4
To cause a population to go extinct in a particular region, but not across the entire range of the species or subspecies.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “extirpate” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Etymology

The verb is first attested in 1538, the adjective in 1541; borrowed from Latin exstirpātus perfect passive participle of exstirpō (“to uproot”), from ex- (“out of”) + stirps (“the lower part of the trunk of a tree, including the roots; the stem, stalk”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)). Doublet of extirp. Common participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

Rhymes for extirpate

See all rhymes for extirpate →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of extirpate?

"extirpate" (verb) means to clear an area of roots and stumps.

What are the different meanings of extirpate?

"extirpate" has 3 main meanings: 1. To clear an area of roots and stumps; 2. To pull up by the roots; uproot; 3. To destroy completely; to annihilate.

Definitions from wiktionary, CC BY-SA · etymology from Wiktionary