decapitate

de·cap·i·tate

transitive verb \di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt, dē-\

de·cap·i·tat·edde·cap·i·tat·ing

Definition of DECAPITATE

: to cut off the head of : behead

— de·cap·i·ta·tion \-ˌka-pə-ˈtā-shən\ noun

— de·cap·i·ta·tor \-ˈka-pə-ˌtā-tər\ noun

Examples of DECAPITATE

1. <a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated>

Origin of DECAPITATE

Late Latin decapitatus, past participle of decapitare, from Latin de- + capit-, caput head — more at head

First Known Use: circa 1611

Related to DECAPITATE

Synonyms

behead, guillotine, head

Related Words

decollate; prune, shorten, trim; scalp

Rhymes with DECAPITATE

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