From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishamputateam‧pu‧tate /ˈæmpjəteɪt/ verb [intransitive, transitive] MHto cut off someone’s arm, leg, finger etc during a medical operation Two of her toes were amputated because of frostbite. —amputation /ˌæmpjəˈteɪʃən/ noun [countable, uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
amputate• He damaged his leg so badly that it had to be amputated.• Eventually, both of Larivee's legs were amputated.• Some are so tormented by the disorder they have demanded that limbs are amputated.• The judge said, when gangrene sets in, the doctor has no choice but to amputate.• Two toes had to be amputated because of frostbite.• Doctors were forced to amputate her right leg, but Jennifer died when a blood clot caused a pulmonary embolism.• Having an arm amputated is not the same as being born with an arm missing.• People in wheelchairs, people with arms amputated or whatever, you know.• Still, there is a way that science has helped to amputate our understanding of the world as a sacred place.• We are having to amputate the arms and legs of three, four and five year olds - without anaesthetic.Origin amputate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of amputare, from amb- “around” + putare “to cut” 