U

amputation

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)

1610s, “a cutting off of tree branches, a pruning,” also “operation of cutting off a limb, etc., of a body,” from Middle French amputation or directly from Latin amputationem (nominative amputatio), noun of action from past participle stem of amputare “cut off, lop off; cut around, to prune,” from am(bi)- “about” (see ambi-) + putare “to prune, trim” (see pave).

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

Surgical removal of all or part of a limb, an organ, or projecting part or process of the body.
Traumatic or spontaneous loss of a limb, organ, or part.

To cut off a part of the body, especially by surgery.