Word: Mutilation
Definition:
Mutilation is a noun that refers to a serious injury that causes a part of the body to be severely damaged or removed. This can mean losing a limb (like an arm or leg) or having a part of the body disfigured (made to look very different, often in a bad way).
Usage Instructions:
You can use the word "mutilation" when talking about serious injuries, especially those that change how a person looks or functionally limits them. It is often used in discussions about accidents, violence, or certain medical situations.
Example Sentences: 1. The soldier suffered mutilation from an explosion and had to adapt to life without his leg. 2. The documentary discussed the mutilation of animals in some parts of the world, highlighting the need for better animal rights.
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced discussions, "mutilation" can also refer to the figurative damage done to something non-physical, like art or literature. For instance, "the mutilation of the original text during translation made it difficult to understand the author's true intentions."
Word Variants: - Mutilate (verb): To cause mutilation or to severely damage. - Example: The accident mutilated his hand, making it difficult for him to write. - Mutilated (adjective): Describing something that has been mutilated. - Example: The mutilated statue was a reminder of the war's destruction.
Different Meanings:
While "mutilation" primarily refers to physical harm, it can also describe the act of damaging or spoiling something in a more abstract sense, such as "the mutilation of a classic work of art" meaning it has been altered in a way that detracts from its original value.
Synonyms:
- Disfigurement - Amputation (specifically refers to the removal of a limb) - Injury - Damage
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "mutilation," but you might encounter phrases that describe severe damage or injury, such as "cut to the bone" (to damage something very severely) or "take a heavy toll" (to cause significant harm).