enucleate

verb

enu·​cle·​ate (ˌ)ē-ˈnü-klē-ˌāt  -ˈnyü- 

enucleated; enucleating

transitive verb

1

archaic : explain

2

: to deprive of a nucleus

3

: to remove without cutting into

enucleate a tumor

enucleate the eyeball

enucleation

(ˌ)ē-ˌn(y)ü-klē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Word History

Etymology

Latin enucleatus, past participle of enucleare, literally, to remove the kernel from, from e- + nucleus kernel — more at nucleus

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

enucleate

1 of 2 transitive verb

enu·​cle·​ate (ˈ)ē-ˈn(y)ü-klē-ˌāt 

enucleated; enucleating

1

: to deprive of a nucleus

2

: to remove without cutting into

enucleate a tumor

enucleate the eyeball

enucleation

(ˌ)ē-ˌn(y)ü-klē-ˈā-shən 

noun

enucleator

(ˈ)ē-ˈn(y)ü-klē-ˌāt-ər 

noun

enucleate

2 of 2 adjective

enu·​cle·​ate -klē-ət, -ˌāt 

: lacking a nucleus

enucleate cells