amputation

UK/ˌæmpjʊˈteɪʃən/US/ˌæmpjʊˈteɪʃən/

nounB2+Occasional — familiar, but not everyday · #8,883 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: amputations

An amputation is the surgical removal of a limb. A below-knee amputation.

Before anaesthetic the whole thing took under a minute, and speed was the surgeon's reputation. Most amputations today are caused by diabetes and poor circulation rather than injury.

Definitions of amputation

1nounamputationThe surgical removal of a limb.B2+
“The amputation saved his life and cost him two years of learning to walk.”

amputation is an operation.

Where it comes from

Latin amputatio first meant the pruning of a tree, from amputare, to cut around.

Latin
amputātiō — pruning (of a tree)
Middle French
amputation
English, today
amputation

Middle French amputation, borrowed from Latin amputātiō (“pruning (of a tree)”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

amputation in the wild

In some countries, judicial amputation is currently used to punish people who commit crimes.
Amputation
In some cultures and religions, minor amputations or mutilations are considered a ritual accomplishment.
Amputation
The Liston knife is a type of knife used in surgical amputation.
Liston knife
Surgical amputation knives came in many styles and changed very much between 1840 and the American Civil War.
Liston knife
Surgery to remove damaged tissue or amputation may be necessary.
Trench foot

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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