online vocabulary.com

Spay - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Spay means to sterilize a female animal by surgically removing its reproductive organs, preventing pregnancy. This common veterinary procedure helps control pet populations and offers health benefits.

spay

/speɪ/ /speɪ/

Definition:

To sterilize a female animal by removing its ovaries.

Synonyms:

neuter, sterilize, fix, desex

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

breed, fertilize

Common Collocations:

spay a cat, spay surgery, spay clinic, spay and neuter

Derivatives:

spayed, spaying

Usage Tips:

Use "spay" for female animals; "neuter" is often used for males but can apply to both genders.

Common Phrases:

spay and neuter, too late to spay, early-age spay

Etymology:

From Old French "espeer," meaning to cut with a sword, later adapted to veterinary use.

Examples:

  • 1. The vet will spay the kitten next week.
  • 2. Spaying helps control the pet population effectively.
  • 3. She adopted a dog that was already spayed.
  • 4. Many shelters spay animals before adoption.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS