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 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 Although the doctor recommended amputating the toe, Marley opted to remove the nail and some of the affected tissue for a skin graft. Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 Our children have been injured, amputated and martyred. Khader Al Za’anoun, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 Such disturbing stories include surgeons amputating the wrong leg, doctors using the wrong sperm for in vitro fertilization, and anesthesiologists delivering the wrong anesthetic. Alain Hunkins, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Caldwell says that while there’s scant textual evidence that describes actual surgical procedures from before Imperial Rome, the first-century-C.E. encyclopedist Aulus Cornelius Celsus does describe operations such as cutting for bladder stones and amputating limbs. Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 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 19 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!