enucleate

American  

[ih-noo-klee-eyt, ih-nyoo-, ih-noo-klee-it, -eyt, ih-nyoo-] / ɪˈnu kliˌeɪt, ɪˈnyu-, ɪˈnu kli ɪt, -ˌeɪt, ɪˈnyu- /

verb (used with object)

enucleated, enucleating

1. Biology. to deprive of the nucleus.

2. to remove (a kernel, tumor, eyeball, etc.) from its enveloping cover.

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

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adjective

1. having no nucleus.

enucleate British  

verb

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

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

3. archaic to explain or disclose

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adjective

1. (of cells) deprived of their nuclei

Other Word Forms

• enucleation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of enucleate

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 -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Enucleate, en-ū′kle-āt, v.t. to lay bare, explain: to extract.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• clarify
• delineate
• exemplify
• explain
• explicate
• express
• illustrate
• set forth
• spell out