verb transitiveWord forms: ˈextirˌpated or ˈextirˌpating1. to pull up by the roots; root out
2. to destroy or remove completely; exterminate; abolish
SIMILAR WORDS: exˈtermiˌnate
Word origin
< L
extirpatus, pp. of
extirpare, exstirpare, to root out <
ex-, out +
stirps, lower part of a tree, root < IE base *
ster-, stiff > stare, starve, stark