amputation
n. C / Un. the surgical removal of a body part, like an arm or a leg, usually to save a person's life or stop an infection.
n. the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity. Often performed to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene.
The doctor explained that an amputation was necessary to stop the infection.
After the severe accident, the surgeons performed an emergency amputation to save the patient's life.
Advances in prosthetic technology have significantly improved the quality of life for individuals following a traumatic amputation, allowing for a return to high-impact physical activities.
Borrowed from Middle French amputation, borrowed from Latin amputātiō (“pruning (of a tree)”).
Uncountable when referring to the medical practice or process; countable when referring to a specific instance or surgical event.