castrate

[ kas-treyt ]

/ ˈkæs treɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR castrate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), cas·trat·ed, cas·trat·ing.

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

a castrated person or animal.

Nearby words

castor bean, castor oil, castor sugar, castor-oil plant, castoreum, castrate, castrati, castration, castration complex, castrato, castries

Origin of castrate

1605–15; < Latin castrātus past participle of castrāre to geld, equivalent to castr- geld + -ātus -ate¹

Related formscas·tra·tion, nouncas·tra·tor, nounun·cas·trat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for castration

Then, Quast brings up Joni Ernst, and takes out a knife to, I guess, remind voters about her castration skills.
7 WTF Campaign Ads You Can’t Unsee, From Castrators to Alligator Wrestlers|Olivia Nuzzi|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hurst sought to get the castration bill passed during the last legislative session but failed.
Fringe Factor: South Carolina Mayor Won’t Apologize for Anti-Gay Rant|Caitlin Dickson|October 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Robert Chesal on how Joep Dohmen uncovered the Dutch castration scandal.
Dutch Castration Scandal: How Journalists Broke the Story|Robert Chesal|March 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As to the castration of calves, it is such a simple process that it is unnecessary to say much on the subject.
Cattle and Cattle-breeders|William M'Combie

The castration of the galli, or priests of Cybele, is described by Dupuis.
The Medicine-Men of the Apache. (1892 N 09 / 1887-1888 (pages 443-604))|John G. Bourke
What motives led to the castration of male cattle, a practice which everywhere obviously serves agricultural purposes?
Elements of Folk Psychology|Wilhelm Wundt
He forbad the castration of males; and reduced the price of the eunuchs who were still left in the hands of the dealers in slaves.
The Lives Of The Twelve Caesars, Complete|C. Suetonius Tranquillus
It is probable that castration may prove especially advantageous in the case of the feeble-minded.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for castration

castrate

/ (kæˈstreɪt) /

verb (tr)

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)

Derived Formscastration, nouncastrator, noun

Word Origin for castrate

C17: from Latin castrāre to emasculate, geld

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for castration (1 of 2)

castration

early 15c., castracioun, from Latin castrationem (nominative castratio), noun of action from past participle stem of castrare "to castrate, emasculate," supposedly from a noun *castrum "knife, instrument that cuts," from PIE root *kes- "to cut" (see caste). Freud's castration complex is attested from 1914 in English (translating German Kastrationsangst).

Word Origin and History for castration (1 of 2)

castrate

1610s (implied in castrated), back-formation from castration (q.v.), or from Latin castratus, past participle of castrare. The figurative sense is attested earlier (1550s). Related: Castrating.

Medicine definitions for castration (1 of 2)

castration

[ kă-strā′shən ]

n.

Removal of the testicles or ovaries; sterilization.

A psychological disorder that is manifested in the female as the fantasized loss of the penis or in the male as fear of its actual loss.

Medicine definitions for castration (2 of 2)

castrate

[ kăs′trāt′ ]

v.

To remove the testicles of a male; emasculate.

To remove the ovaries of a female; spay.

castrate

verb (used with object), cas·trat·ed, cas·trat·ing.

noun

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Origin of castrate

Examples from the Web for castration

British Dictionary definitions for castration

castrate

verb (tr)

Word Origin for castrate

Word Origin and History for castration (1 of 2)

castration

Word Origin and History for castration (1 of 2)

castrate

Medicine definitions for castration (1 of 2)

castration

n.

Medicine definitions for castration (2 of 2)

castrate

v.