e·mas·cu·late [ i máskyə làyt ](past and past participlee·mas·cu·lat·ed, present participlee·mas·cu·lat·ing, 3rd person present singulare·mas·cu·lates)
transitive verb
Definition:
1. castrate somebody: to remove the testicles of a male human being or animal
(
literary
)
2. weaken somebody or something: to deprive somebody or something of effectiveness, spirit, or force
(
formal
)
(
sometimes considered offensive
)
3. remove stamens from flower: to remove the male reproductive organs stamens from a flower, e.g. to prevent self-pollination
[Early 17th century. < Latin emasculat-, past participle of emasculare "remove the male glands of, castrate" < masculus "male"]
