amputate

[am-pyoo-teyt] /ˈæm pyʊˌteɪt/
verb (used with object), amputated, amputating.
1.
to cut off (all or part of a limb or digit of the body), as by surgery.
2.
to prune, lop off, or remove:
Because of space limitations the editor amputated the last two paragraphs of the news report.
3.
Obsolete. to prune, as branches of trees.
Origin
1630-40; < Latin amputātus pruned, trimmed (past participle of amputāre), equivalent to am(bi) around (cf. ambi-) + put- trim + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
amputation, noun
amputative, adjective
amputator, noun
nonamputation, noun
postamputation, adjective
self-amputation, noun
unamputated, adjective
unamputative, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for amputate

amputate

/ˈæmpjʊˌteɪt/
verb
1.
(surgery) to remove (all or part of a limb, esp an arm or leg)
Derived Forms
amputation, noun
amputator, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Latin amputāre, from am- around + putāre to trim, prune
Word Origin and History for amputate
v.

1630s, back-formation from amputation or else from Latin amputatus, past participle of amputare "to cut off, to prune." Related: Amputated; amputating.

amputate in Medicine

amputate am·pu·tate (ām'pyu-tāt')
v. am·pu·tat·ed, am·pu·tat·ing, am·pu·tates
To cut off a part of the body, especially by surgery.