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.
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.