Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
circulating library
circulating medium
circulation
circulatory
circulatory system
circum-
circumambient
circumambulate
circumcise
Circumcision
circumcision
circumcorneal
circumference
circumflex
circumfluent
circumlocution
circumlunar
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

circumcise

cir·cum·cise [ súrkəm sz ] (past and past participle cir·cum·cised, present participle cir·cum·cis·ing, 3rd person present singular cir·cum·cis·es)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. remove foreskin of somebody: to remove all or part of the foreskin from the penis of a boy or man, either for hygiene reasons or as part of a religious ritual

2. remove clitoris or prepuce of somebody: to cut away the skin prepuce covering the clitoris, or remove the clitoris of a girl or woman, usually as part of a religious ritual

[13th century. < Old French circonciser< Latin circumcis-, past participle of circumcidere "cut around" < caedere "to cut"]

cir·cum·cis·er noun
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft