Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mutilate

/ˈmjuː.tɪˌleɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.45 in modern English

Syllables
mu-ti-late
IPA
/ˈmjuː.tɪˌleɪt/
10
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To render imperfect or defective.

adj

Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated.

Obsolete

adj

Having fin-like appendages or flukes instead of legs, like a cetacean does.

Archaic

noun

Something that has been mutilated.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin mutilātus, the perfect passive participle of mutilō (“to mutilate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), itself from mutilus (“maimed”).

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce mutilate?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmjuː.tɪˌleɪt/.
What does mutilate mean?
To physically harm as to impair use, notably by cutting off or otherwise disabling a vital part, such as a limb.
Where does mutilate come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin mutilātus, the perfect passive participle of mutilō (“to mutilate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), itself from mutilus (“maimed”).

How to pronounce mutilate

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “mutilate”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmjuː.tɪˌleɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “mutilate”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “mutilate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.