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

After all, what says hardcore quite like amputating your own fingertip with a pocketknife? —Sarah Goodman, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025

Seven surgeries and fighting a bacterial infection Annabelle underwent an initial surgery that amputated her leg. —Morgan Chesky, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024

Taking tissue samples from the stub of Cher Ami’s right leg (which had been amputated due to German fire) and the underside of Cher Ami’s left rear toe pad, the researchers were able to determine that the bird was indeed a male, as had been theorized. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025

In an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News, vet Nurhan Kahraman suggested two separate incidents involving a cat and a puppy, in which both animals had two of their legs amputated, could have been down to black magic. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 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