mutilate definition - Dictionary

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mutilate

mu·ti·late [ myt'l àyt ] (past and past participle mu·ti·lat·ed, present participle mu·ti·lat·ing, 3rd person present singular mu·ti·lates)

transitive verb

Definition:

1. destroy body part: to inflict serious injury on the body or a part of the body of a person or animal by removing or destroying parts of it

2. ruin something by removing parts: to damage or spoil something such as a piece of writing or a movie by removing important parts of it

3. damage something seriously: to inflict serious damage on something

[Mid-16th century. Partly < Latin mutilat-, past participle of mutilare "cut or lop off" < mutilus "maimed"; partly < obsolete mutilate "mutilated"]

mu·ti·la·tion [ myt'l áysh'n ] noun

mu·ti·la·tive adjective

mu·ti·la·tor noun

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