desex
Verb: 1. To remove the reproductive organs of; to sterilize: The primary meaning of 'desex' is to perform a surgical or medical procedure that removes the reproductive capacity of an animal or person, making them infertile.
The verb 'desex' is used to describe the act of sterilizing, typically through surgery. It is most commonly applied to animals, especially pets like cats and dogs, to prevent breeding. When used for humans, the term is often considered blunt or clinical and is frequently replaced by more specific terms like 'sterilize', 'neuter', or 'spay'.
- Verb:
- The shelter's policy is to desex all cats before they are adopted.
- It is responsible to desex your pet to help control the animal population.
- Passive Voice: Often used in the passive voice to describe the state of an animal.
- The stray dog had been desexed by a local charity.
- Desexed (adj.): The state of having been sterilized.
- We only adopt out desexed animals.
- Desexing (n.): The process or practice of sterilization.
- Desexing is a routine veterinary procedure.
- Sterilize: To make infertile; a more general and common synonym.
- Neuter: To remove the testicles of a male animal (often used specifically for males but sometimes generically).
- Spay: To remove the ovaries and usually the uterus of a female animal.
- Castrate: To remove the testicles of a male animal or person.
The word 'desex' is highly specific and does not have other common meanings. Its core meaning is strictly related to causing infertility. It should not be confused with terms related to gender or sexual characteristics beyond reproductive capacity.
'Desex' does not commonly form phrasal verbs.
There are no common idioms that use the word 'desex'.
- make infertile
- in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilites are sterilized