enucleate

[ verb ih-noo-klee-eyt, ih-nyoo-; adjective ih-noo-klee-it, -eyt, ih-nyoo- ]

verb (used with object)

, e·nu·cle·at·ed, e·nu·cle·at·ing.

1. Biology. to deprive of the nucleus.
2. to remove (a kernel, tumor, eyeball, etc.) from its enveloping cover.
3. Archaic. to bring out; disclose; explain.

adjective

1. having no nucleus.

enucleate

verb

1. biology to remove the nucleus from (a cell)
2. surgery to remove (a tumour or other structure) from its capsule without rupturing it
3. archaic.
   to explain or disclose

adjective

1. (of cells) deprived of their nuclei

Derived Forms

• eˌnucleˈation, noun

Other Words From

• e·nu·cle·a·tion [ih-noo-klee-, ey, -sh, uh, n, -nyoo-] noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of enucleate¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin ēnucleātus (past participle of ēnucleāre “to remove the pit from (fruit)”), equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + nucle(us) nucleus + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of enucleate¹

C16: from Latin ēnūcleāre to remove the kernel, from nūcleus kernel

Example Sentences

Both patriarchs realize and regret their folly, but only after ordeals that involve Lear enduring the least effective storm scene I have ever seen staged, and Gloucester getting enucleated.

From New York Times

You take that cell and fuse it to the enucleated egg, activate it — which starts it growing — and transfer it to a surrogate mother.

From Nature

When he was 14, she struck him in the face with a toy metal sword, enucleating his right eye.

From New York Times

The third and most difficult stage in the procedure involves the insertion of the donor-cell nucleus into the enucleated egg.

From Scientific American

Instead of enucleating them, they kept them intact and inserted the adult cell’s nucleus alongside the original one.

From Economist

Related Words

• clarify
• delineate
• exemplify
• explain
• explicate
• express
• illustrate
• set forth
• spell out