enucleate

[ verb ih-noo-klee-eyt, ih-nyoo-; adjective ih-noo-klee-it, -eyt, ih-nyoo- ]
See synonyms for: enucleateenucleation on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. Archaic. to bring out; disclose; explain.

adjective
  1. having no nucleus.

Origin of enucleate

1
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 -ate1

Other words from enucleate

  • e·nu·cle·a·tion [ih-noo-klee-ey-shuhn, -nyoo-] /ɪˌnu kliˈeɪ ʃən, -ˌnyu-/ noun

Words Nearby enucleate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use enucleate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for enucleate

enucleate

verb(ɪˈnjuːklɪˌeɪt) (tr)
  1. biology to remove the nucleus from (a cell)

  2. surgery to remove (a tumour or other structure) from its capsule without rupturing it

  1. archaic to explain or disclose

adjective(ɪˈnjuːklɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)
  1. (of cells) deprived of their nuclei

Origin of enucleate

1
C16: from Latin ēnūcleāre to remove the kernel, from nūcleus kernel

Derived forms of enucleate

  • enucleation, noun

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