Amputation

/ˌæm.pjʊˈteɪ.ʃən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The surgical removal of all or part of a limb or other body part.

The doctor recommended amputation of the infected leg to save the patient's life.

The act of severing or cutting off, especially in a medical context.

Amputation was considered the last resort after all other treatment options were exhausted.

A figurative term used to describe the removal or loss of something, often used in a non-physical context.

The company's reorganization led to the amputation of several departments that were underperforming.

From Latin 'amputare', meaning 'to cut off'.

surface-level amputation

A term used to describe an amputation that does not go deep into the tissue.

below the knee amputation

The surgical removal of the leg below the knee.

above the elbow amputation

The surgical removal of the arm above the elbow.

limb

A major appendage of the body, such as an arm or leg.

surgery

The branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of injuries or disorders by manual or operative methods.

prosthesis

An artificial device that replaces a missing body part.

Chopping off

He joked that his bad decision felt like a chopping off of opportunities.

Lost a limb

After the accident, he said, 'Looks like I've lost a limb.'