castrate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to remove the testes of; emasculate; geld.
-
to remove the ovaries of.
-
Psychology. to render impotent, literally or metaphorically, by psychological means, especially by threatening a person's masculinity or femininity.
-
to deprive of strength, power, or efficiency; weaken.
Without those ten new submarines, our navy will be castrated.
noun
verb
-
to remove the testicles of; emasculate; geld
-
to deprive of vigour, masculinity, etc
-
to remove the ovaries of; spay
-
to expurgate or censor (a book, play, etc)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of castrate
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin castrātus, past participle of castrāre “to geld,” equivalent to castr- “geld” + -ātus past participle suffix; see -ate 1
Explanation
To castrate a male animal is to surgically remove its testicles. A veterinarian castrates a male dog to ensure that it can't mate with a female and produce unwanted puppies. People often choose to castrate pets or farm animals to keep them from reproducing. Castrate is one of several words used to refer to this process; most pet owners prefer terms such as neuter or fix. Castrate comes from a Latin root, castrare, which means not just "to castrate," but also "to prune." The word has also come to mean "to take away strength."
Vocabulary lists containing castrate
Ender's Game
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
While the World Watched
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So Cumberbatch spent considerable time in Montana learning cowboy skills — riding, braiding rope, rolling cigarettes, even how to castrate a bull.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2021
“I said, ‘Ben, I’m going to tell you something: Keep this one ’cause you’ll never find another one who will castrate a calf and ride a motorcycle,’” Ms. Carson recalled.
From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2021
The anxiety of influence can trigger hysterical pastiche or castrate an author’s creativity.
From Washington Post • Dec. 28, 2020
But alongside these essential legal updates, Thorne has revealed a way to castrate it, to remove its power.
From The Guardian • Jul. 7, 2019
They would not castrate or shear animals unless the moon was right, and they would not gather crops or save next year’s seeds unless the moon dictated.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
