amputate

[ am-pyoo-teyt ]

verb (used with object)

, am·pu·tat·ed, am·pu·tat·ing.

1. to cut off (all or part of a limb or digit of the body), as by surgery.
2. to prune, lop off, or remove:

   Because of space limitations the editor amputated the last two paragraphs of the news report.

3. Obsolete. to prune, as branches of trees.

amputate

/ ˈæmpjʊˌteɪt /

verb

1. surgery to remove (all or part of a limb, esp an arm or leg)

Derived Forms

• ˌampuˈtation, noun
• ˈampuˌtator, noun

Other Words From

• ampu·tation noun
• ampu·tative adjective
• ampu·tator noun
• nonam·pu·tation noun
• postam·pu·tation adjective
• self-ampu·tation noun
• un·ampu·tated adjective
• un·ampu·tative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of amputate¹

1630–40; < Latin amputātus pruned, trimmed (past participle of amputāre ), equivalent to am ( bi ) around ( ambi- ) + put- trim + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of amputate¹

C17: from Latin amputāre, from am- around + putāre to trim, prune

Example Sentences

A teenager is set to have both legs, one hand and the fingers of his other hand amputated after he contracted Sepsis.

From BBC

With his leg amputated, the blacksmith could no longer work and was feeling desperate.

From BBC

This was the location of the nearest hospital - and the medics there managed to save his life, but what was left of his leg had to be amputated.

From BBC

Dacic said two people were in hospital, including one man who had his legs amputated.

From BBC

One of his legs is amputated above the knee and the other below.

From BBC

Related Words

• cut away
• cut off
• sever