amputate

[am-pyoo-teyt]

verb (used with object)

amputated, amputating 

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)

Other Word Forms

• amputation noun
• amputative adjective
• amputator noun
• nonamputation noun
• postamputation adjective
• self-amputation noun
• unamputated adjective
• unamputative 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

Jackson was hit by friendly fire during the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1893 and had his arm amputated before he died.

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Both had to be amputated just below the knee.

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"If there's anything, I'll recognise him - my son's leg is amputated, and he has vitiligo... His hair is white. I'd know him," she added.

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The Taliban also introduced public executions for convicted murderers and punished thieves by amputating a hand.

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The allegations say he then "dismembered" Mr Wright and "disarticulated" his body - which means amputating limbs at the joints.

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Related Words

• cut away www.thesaurus.com
• cut off 
• sever