Definition

1. Verb:
   • To remove the ovaries of (a female animal): The primary meaning is a surgical procedure to sterilize a female animal by removing its ovaries, preventing it from becoming pregnant.

Usage

• The verb "spay" is used specifically for female animals. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the animal).
• It is most commonly used in the context of responsible pet ownership and animal population control.
• The past tense and past participle is "spayed."

Examples

• Verb:
  • The veterinarian will spay the dog next week.
  • Is your cat spayed?
  • We decided to spay our rabbit to prevent unwanted litters.

Advanced Usage

• "To have an animal spayed": This is a common passive construction where the owner is the subject.
  • We had our puppy spayed when she was six months old.

Variants and Related Words

• Neuter (verb): A more general term for sterilizing an animal. "Neuter" can refer to males (castration) or females (spaying), though it is sometimes used specifically for males.
• Sterilize (verb): The broadest term, meaning to render incapable of reproduction. "Spay" is a specific type of sterilization.
• Ovariohysterectomy (noun): The formal medical term for the spay surgery, which typically involves removing both the ovaries and the uterus.

Synonyms

• Sterilize: To make incapable of reproduction.
• Alter: A common euphemism used in animal welfare contexts (e.g., "to have your pet altered").
• Fix: An informal synonym (e.g., "We got our cat fixed").

Antonyms

• Breed: To cause animals to produce offspring.

Related Phrases

• Spay and neuter: A common paired phrase advocating for the sterilization of both female ("spay") and male ("neuter") pets.
  • The animal shelter promotes spay and neuter programs to reduce overpopulation.

Verb

1. remove the ovaries of
   • Is your cat spayed?