- Extirpate is defined as to completely remove, destroy or pull out by the roots.
- An example of extirpate is to get rid of field mice in a basement.
- An example of extirpate is pulling weeds from your vegetable garden.
An extirpated tree.
extirpate definition by Webster's New World
- to pull up by the roots; root out
- to destroy or remove completely; exterminate; abolish
Origin: ; from Classical Latin extirpatus, past participle of extirpare, exstirpare, to root out ; from ex-, out plush stirps, lower part of a tree, root ; from Indo-European base an unverified form ster-, stiff from source stare, starve, stark
extirpate definition by American Heritage Dictionary
transitive verb ex·tir·pat·ed, ex·tir·pat·ing, ex·tir·pates
- To pull up by the roots.
- To destroy totally; exterminate. See Synonyms at abolish.
- To remove by surgery.
Origin: Latin exstirpāre, exstirpāt- : ex-, ex- + stirps, root.
- exˌtir·paˈtion noun
- exˈtir·paˌtive adjective
- exˈtir·paˌtor noun