amputate
C1Medical, Formal
Definition
Meaning
To cut off a limb, digit, or other projecting part of the body surgically.
To remove or cut off any part or projection, often in a drastic or necessary manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a medical term. Can be used metaphorically to describe severe, often forced, removal of parts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Highly clinical and serious in both varieties. Metaphorical use is rare but possible.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general use, but standard within medical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJECT] amputated [OBJECT] ([PREP] [LOCATION])The surgeons amputated his leg (above the knee).[OBJECT] was amputated ([PREP] [LOCATION])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Amputate the problem at the source.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used metaphorically: 'The company had to amputate its unprofitable division.'
Academic
Used in medical, historical, and bioethics texts.
Everyday
Used only when discussing serious injury or medical procedures.
Technical
Standard term in surgery, trauma medicine, and veterinary science.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The surgeons decided to amputate the gangrenous foot.
- In the field hospital, they had to amputate without proper anaesthetic.
American English
- Doctors were forced to amputate his arm after the accident.
- To prevent sepsis, they'll need to amputate the infected toe.
adjective
British English
- The patient required an amputative procedure.
American English
- He underwent amputative surgery yesterday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor said he must amputate the finger.
- After the severe frostbite, the mountaineer's toes had to be amputated.
- Surgeons made the difficult decision to amputate the limb above the injury site to save the patient's life.
- The field medic, faced with catastrophic trauma and no evacuation, reluctantly began to amputate the soldier's crushed leg.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AMPUtate: AMPUtation is the result; the verb is the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEPARATION AS SURGICAL REMOVAL / PROBLEM AS DISEASED LIMB.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ампутировать' which is a direct cognate and correct. No trap, just a formal Latinate word.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'amputee' (the person). Incorrect: 'He was amputated.' Correct: 'His leg was amputated.' or 'He underwent an amputation.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'amputate' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun form is 'amputation'.
Yes, but only metaphorically in non-medical contexts (e.g., 'amputate a failing department'). It is primarily a medical term.
'Amputate' specifically implies a surgical or medical cutting off of a body part. 'Sever' is more general and can mean to cut through anything completely.
No. The correct constructions are 'His leg was amputated' or 'He had his leg amputated.' The person is not the direct object of the action; the body part is.