amputate

verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt 

amputated; amputating

transitive verb

: to remove by or as if by cutting

especially : to cut (a part, such as a limb) from the body

amputation

ˌam-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Examples of amputate in a Sentence

His arm was badly injured and had to be amputated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Goldberg-Polin appeared with his left hand amputated in a video released by Hamas in late April. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024

Olympic athlete amputates finger to play in 2024 Paris Games Authorities have not called this a terror attack. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 26 July 2024

According to the lawsuit, Messer is a longtime Type 2 diabetic who had several toes amputated due to diabetic ulcers not long before his arrest. —Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2024

The woman’s leg was amputated in the crash and was taken to a local hospital. —Tammy Murga, The Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin amputātus, past participle of amputāre "to prune back (a plant), prune away, remove by cutting (unwanted parts or features), cut off (a branch, limb, body part)," from am-, assimilated variant of amb- "about, around" + putāre "to prune, make clean or tidy, scour (wool)" — more at ambient entry 1, putative

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

amputate

verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt 

amputated; amputating

: to cut off

especially : to cut off an arm or leg from the body

amputation

ˌam-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

amputate

transitive verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt 

amputated; amputating

: to cut (as a limb) from the body

amputation

ˌam-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

noun