spayed

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Word: Spayed

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: The word "spayed" describes a female animal that has had a surgical operation to remove her ovaries. This procedure is often done to prevent the animal from having babies and can also help with certain health issues.

Usage Instructions:

• You use "spayed" when talking about female pets, like cats or dogs.
• It is important to note that only female animals can be "spayed." For male animals, the equivalent procedure is called "neutered."

Example Sentences:

1. "My cat is spayed, so she won't have any kittens."
2. "Many animal shelters spay the pets they adopt out to help control the pet population."

Advanced Usage:

• In veterinary contexts, you might hear phrases like "spay surgery" or "spaying procedure," which refer to the operation itself.
• The term can also be used in discussions about animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

Word Variants:

• Spay (verb): The action of performing the surgery. Example: "The veterinarian will spay the dog next week."
• Spaying (gerund): The process of performing the spay operation. Example: "Spaying can help reduce the risk of certain diseases in female pets."

Different Meanings:

• "Spayed" generally only has one primary meaning related to female animals. However, in a broader sense, it can metaphorically suggest that something has been rendered incapable of reproduction or growth (like ideas or projects).

Synonyms:

• Neutered (when referring to male animals)
• Sterilized (more general term for rendering an animal incapable of reproduction)

Related Terms:

• Neutered: Used for male animals that have had their reproductive organs removed.
• Animal Control: Refers to the management of animal populations, often including spaying and neutering programs.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to the word "spayed," but you might hear phrases like "spay and neuter" when discussing responsible pet ownership.

Academic

Adjective

1. (of a female animal) having the ovaries removed