amputate

am·pu·tate | \ ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt

How to pronounce amputate (audio)

\

amputated; amputating

Definition of amputate

transitive verb

: to remove by or as if by cutting especially : to cut (a part, such as a limb) from the body

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Examples of amputate in a Sentence

His arm was badly injured and had to be amputated.

Recent Examples on the Web His leg had been amputated due to diabetes complications, his brother Ronnie Medrano said. — oregonlive, "A man’s trip to the grocery store ends 40 miles away in a fatal Hillsboro police shooting. His family wants answers.," 6 Nov. 2019 At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where Cleve was transferred after his leg was finally amputated, many patients had missing body parts and, therefore, prosthetics. — al, "Alabama Marine lost his leg in Iraq and his life to painkillers," 3 Oct. 2019 Individuals treated at these IHS facilities have mistakenly had their limbs amputated; suicidal patients were abandoned and found dead; one man with mental health ailments and heart conditions was pepper-sprayed to death by hospital security. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "Congress Is Still Breaking Treaties and Cheating Indian Country," 26 Sep. 2019 An Arkansas woman's leg was amputated in 2018 following a particularly nasty brown recluse bite. — Scottie Andrew, CNN, "She thought there was water in her ear. Turns out it was a venomous spider," 23 Aug. 2019 When Trainer woke in a hospital bed nine days later, her hands and legs had been amputated. — Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, "A woman lost her hands and legs to an infection from puppy kisses," 4 Aug. 2019 His own legs had been amputated after he was electrocuted in the subway. — Neal Hirschfeld, New York Times, "He Was Shot and Paralyzed 37 Years Ago. That’s Not How the Story Ends.," 2 Aug. 2019 Nicholas’ right leg was amputated at age 11 because of a birth defect. — BostonGlobe.com, "FIFA shoots for more Women’s World Cup teams," 27 July 2019 Doctors said the teenager's left leg and two fingers on her left hand were amputated after what was likely a bull shark attack, based on tooth markings found on her bones. — CBS News, "Shark bites 8-year-old boy in third North Carolina attack this month," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amputate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Amputate.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amputated. Accessed 6 December 2019.

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More Definitions for amputate

amputate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of amputate

medical : to cut off (part of a person's body)

See the full definition for amputate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

amputate

am·pu·tate | \ ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt

\

amputated; amputating

Kids Definition of amputate

: to cut off (part of a person's body)

amputate

transitive verb

am·pu·tate | \ ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt

\

amputated; amputating

Medical Definition of amputate

: to cut (as a limb) from the body

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