avulse

[ uh-vuhls ]

verb (used with object)

, a·vulsed, a·vuls·ing.

1. to pull off or tear away forcibly:

   to avulse a ligament.

Word History and Origins

Origin of avulse¹

1755–65; < Latin āvulsus, past participle of āvellere to pluck off, tear away, equivalent to ā- a- ⁴ + vul-, past participle stem of vellere to forcibly pull, pluck + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix

Related Words

• cull
• derive
• distill
• elicit
• exact
• extort
• extricate
• glean
• obtain
• pluck
• pry
• pull
• reap
• separate
• siphon
• squeeze
• withdraw
• wrest
• wring