What does "castrate" mean?
A castrated man; a eunuch.
Castrate
/ˈkæs.tɹeɪt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A castrated man; a eunuch.
- Grammar: castrate is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: neuter, emasculate, sterilize, alter.
- Useful contrasts: empower, fertilize, intact animal.
- Usage evidence: Pet owners sometimes castrate male animals to make them more docile.
How to use "castrate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "castrate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "castrate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "castrate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "castrate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "castrate" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "neuter" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "castrate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A castrated man; a eunuch.
"The castrate voice had a strange power not duplicated by soprano or countertenor."
- 2 a man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction wordnet
Verb
- 1 To remove the testicles of a person or animal. transitive
"If the priests of Diana of Ephesus castrated themselves and offered their genitals on the altar, it was because the phallus was the symbol of the dying body."
- 2 remove the ovaries of wordnet
- 3 To remove the ovaries and/or uterus of an animal. transitive, uncommon
- 4 remove the testicles of a male animal wordnet
- 5 To take something from; to render imperfect or ineffectual. figuratively, transitive
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate wordnet
- 7 deprive of strength or vigor wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Pet owners sometimes castrate male animals to make them more docile."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "castrate"?
Common synonyms include: neuter, emasculate, sterilize, alter, alter, beat down.
How do you use "castrate" in a sentence?
Pet owners sometimes castrate male animals to make them more docile.
How do you pronounce "castrate"?
Pronounced /ˈkæs.tɹeɪt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Likely from an unattested sense of Middle English castrat (“(adjective) castrated; (noun) a castrated animal”), substantivized borrowing of Latin castrātus, perfect passive participle of castrō (“to prune, amputate, castrate”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix)).
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Latin castrātus, perfect passive participle of Latin castrō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Displaced native geld in its broader sense.