amputate

verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt How to pronounce amputate (audio)
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 noun

Examples of amputate in a Sentence

His arm was badly injured and had to be amputated.
Recent Examples on the Web Prosecutors said Zhang immersed his feet in a bucket of dry ice for around 10 hours, which resulted in frostbite and required both legs to be amputated, Business Insider and Taiwan News reports. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 The freight car rolled over Ivy, crushing part of his left arm and both his legs, which had to be amputated. Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2024 His illness brought cardiovascular and respiratory complications, and his left foot had to be amputated in December 2001. The Arizona Republic, 15 Feb. 2024 The doctors saved his left leg but had to amputate part of his right limb. Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 In a 2009 interview with the Guardian, the fight’s promoter, Bob Arum, said Ali almost had to have the limb amputated. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Following the crash, Edmondson had both of her legs amputated. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 The dog, who underwent multiple surgeries after the attack, suffered wounds to his neck and back, and had to have his tail amputated, his owner told WBIR. USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Common injuries are turning into infections, the physician said, and within days, a person’s limb may need to be amputated. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amputate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of amputate was in 1612

Dictionary Entries Near amputate

Cite this Entry

“Amputate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amputate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

amputate

verb
am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt How to pronounce amputate (audio)
amputated; amputating
: to cut off
especially : to cut off an arm or leg from the body
amputation noun

Medical Definition

amputate

transitive verb
am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt How to pronounce amputate (audio)
amputated; amputating
: to cut (as a limb) from the body
amputation noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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