Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), am·pu·tat·ed, am·pu·tat·ing.
- to cut off (all or part of a limb or digit of the body), as by surgery.
- to prune, lop off, or remove: Because of space limitations the editor amputated the last two paragraphs of the news report.
- Obsolete. to prune, as branches of trees.
verb
- surgery to remove (all or part of a limb, esp an arm or leg)
1630s, back-formation from amputation or else from Latin amputatus, past participle of amputare “to cut off, to prune.” Related: Amputated; amputating.
v.
- To cut off a part of the body, especially by surgery.