spay

[ spey ]

/ speɪ /

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verb (used with object) Veterinary Medicine.

to remove the ovaries of (an animal).

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of spay

1375–1425; late Middle English spayen<Anglo-French espeïer to cut with a sword (Old French espeer), derivative of espee sword; see épée

OTHER WORDS FROM spay

un·spayed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spay

spade, spayed

Words nearby spay

spätzle, spaulder, spavin, spavined, spawn, spay, spaz, spaza shop, S.P.C.A., S.P.C.C., SPCK

Other definitions for spay (2 of 2)

spay²

[ spey ]

/ speɪ /

noun

a three-year-old male red deer.

Also called spay·ad

[spey-uhd], /ˈspeɪ əd/, spay·ard

[spey-erd]. /ˈspeɪ ərd/.

Origin of spay

1375–1425; late Middle English < ?

How to use spay in a sentence

Fewer animals are born each year, thanks to broader spay and neuter programs, often dictated by law, and improved surgical techniques.
How America Saved Millions of Dogs—By Moving Them|Andrew Blum|February 3, 2022|Time
Around the same time, in the late 2000s, veterinarians launched a concerted effort to spay and neuter more dogs and cats.
How America Saved Millions of Dogs—By Moving Them|Andrew Blum|February 3, 2022|Time
Many people with companion animals in their homes do disagree about issues such as spaying and neutering policies, euthanasia or pet food.
The #BettyWhiteChallenge Highlights The Growth Of Animal Philanthropy And The Role Of Rescues|LGBTQ-Editor|January 17, 2022|No Straight News
A few years ago, Woods organized volunteer pilots to pick up feral cats from the island to be spayed and neutered.
Volunteer pilots fly in the holiday cheer|Christina Tkacik|December 20, 2021|Washington Post

Other shelters have had long-standing overcrowding issues because their states don’t have strong campaigns that encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their animals.
More than 130 dogs and cats flown to D.C. region after rescue from Hurricane Ida|Dana Hedgpeth|September 2, 2021|Washington Post
She says the Humane Society would like to enforce spay and neuter laws to the point where there would be no purebred dogs left.
The Sleazy War on the Humane Society|Center for Public Integrity|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a land where resources are scarce, and spay-neuter initiatives are only starting to make inroads, this is not surprising.
My Dog Solha: From Afghanistan, With PTSD|Jessie Knadler|March 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the course of time, they drank four-and-twenty, when Spay said to the other, "Now we'll go."
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 470|Various

British Dictionary definitions for spay

spay

/ (speɪ) /

verb

(tr) to remove the ovaries, and usually the uterus, from (a female animal)

Word Origin for spay

C15: from Old French espeer to cut with the sword, from espee sword, from Latin spatha

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

spay

Origin of spay

OTHER WORDS FROM spay

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spay

Words nearby spay

Other definitions for spay (2 of 2)

Origin of spay

Words related to spay

How to use spay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spay

Word Origin for spay