am·pu·tate \ˈampyəˌtāt, ˈaam-, usu -ād.+V\transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Latin amputatus, past participle of amputare to cut around, prune, from am-, amb- around + putare to cut, prune — more at ambi-, pave 1.: to cut or lop off : prune < amputating data from its cultural context — S.E.Hyman > < a dimension has been amputated from man's political existence — Irving Kristol > 2.: to cut off (a limb or portion of a limb or a projecting part of the body) — compare excise