Definition

1. Noun:
   • The surgical removal of all or part of a limb: The act or operation of cutting off a limb, such as an arm or leg, for medical reasons.
   • A condition of disability resulting from the loss of one or more limbs: The state of having had a limb removed, often referring to the resulting physical condition.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The surgeon performed an amputation to prevent the spread of infection.
  • After the accident, he had to undergo an amputation of his left leg below the knee.
  • She learned to walk again with a prosthetic limb following the amputation.

Advanced Usage

• "To face/undergo an amputation": To be in a situation where the surgical removal of a limb is necessary or to have the procedure done.
  • The patient had to face the difficult decision of undergoing an amputation.
• "Traumatic amputation": The loss of a limb caused by a severe injury, such as in an accident, rather than by a planned surgical procedure.
  • The factory worker suffered a traumatic amputation of two fingers in the machinery.

Variants and Related Words

• Amputate (verb): To cut off a limb by surgical operation.
  • The doctors had to amputate the gangrenous foot.
• Amputee (noun): A person who has had a limb amputated.
  • The clinic provides support services for amputees.

Synonyms

• Surgical removal: The general act of removing something via surgery.
• Dismemberment: The act of cutting or tearing off the limbs (often used in non-medical, violent contexts).
• Severance: The action of ending a connection or link; can be used formally for cutting off.

Related Phrases

• "Above-the-knee amputation (AKA)": A surgical amputation performed through the thigh bone (femur).
• "Below-the-knee amputation (BKA)": A surgical amputation performed through the shin bones (tibia and fibula).

Noun

1. a surgical removal of all or part of a limb
2. a condition of disability resulting from the loss of one or more limbs