spay
/spei/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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.