castrate
/kæˈstreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈæstrˌet] /ˈkæstreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈæstrˌet] /ˈka-ˌstrāt How to pronounce castrate (audio)/ (ame, mw)
castrate — verb
- castratepresent simple I / you / we / they
- castrateshe / she / it
- castratedpast simple
- castrating-ing form
1. to take out a male animal's or man's testicles, usually to stop reproduction or
to take out a male animal's or man's testicles, usually to stop reproduction or reduce sex-hormone production
The farm vet castrated the young bull before winter feeding began.
castrate + young male animal
Surgeons castrated the dog after finding a disease in one testicle.
The rescue center castrated every male goat before placing them with families.
Doctors rarely castrate a patient unless no safer treatment is available.
文法句型
castrate + male animal/person
用法筆記
Used mainly in veterinary or medical contexts. The object is normally a male animal; use with a human patient is much rarer and usually refers to serious disease or punishment.
2. to surgically take out the ovaries in a woman or in a female animal
to surgically take out the ovaries in a woman or in a female animal
The clinic castrated the stray cat to prevent more unwanted kittens.
veterinary use with a female animal
Vets castrated the mare after scans showed a dangerous growth.
The shelter castrated several female rabbits before the adoption event.
Doctors may castrate a patient when ovarian disease keeps returning.
文法句型
castrate + female animal/person
用法筆記
This is a much rarer extension of the word than sense 1. It appears mostly in technical medical or veterinary discussion and focuses specifically on removing the ovaries.
3. to make something much weaker, less effective, or unable to have its full force
to make something much weaker, less effective, or unable to have its full force
The last-minute budget cut castrated the plan before work even started.
figurative use with a plan
Removing the local teams castrated the tournament and killed public interest.
The final edits castrated her article, leaving it flat and cautious.
A weak enforcement system can castrate the law in practice.
文法句型
castrate + plan/law/article/system
用法筆記
This figurative sense is strongly negative and usually appears in formal criticism. It often suggests that a plan, rule, or piece of writing has lost the force that once made it useful.
castrate — noun
1. a male person or animal whose testicles have been removed
a male person or animal whose testicles have been removed
In old courts, a castrate often sang music written for high male voices.
historical use, especially of singers
The novel follows a castrate who performs for nobles across Europe.
Historians debated whether the famous castrate had any choice in childhood.
The opera company cast a countertenor instead of a castrate.
文法句型
a castrate
the castrate
用法筆記
Usually historical when it refers to a human being, especially a singer from an earlier European tradition. For modern animals, people more often use a phrase such as 'castrated male' instead of this noun.