Spay: meaning, definitions and examples

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spay

[ speɪ ]

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animal surgery

To spay means to surgically remove the ovaries and uterus of a female animal, typically a cat or dog. This procedure is performed by a veterinarian and is done to prevent the animal from reproducing.

Synonyms

neuter, sterilize

Examples of usage

Many animal shelters spay female cats and dogs before adopting them out.
It is recommended to spay your female pet to prevent overpopulation of unwanted animals.

Translations

Translations of the word "spay" in other languages:

🇵🇹 castrar

🇮🇳 नपुंसक करना (Napunsak Karna)

🇩🇪 kastrieren

🇮🇩 mengebiri

🇺🇦 каструвати

🇵🇱 kastracja

🇯🇵 去勢する (Kyojo suru)

🇫🇷 castrer

🇪🇸 castrar

🇹🇷 kısırlaştırmak

🇰🇷 거세하다 (Geosehada)

🇸🇦 خصي (Khasy)

🇨🇿 kastrovat

🇸🇰 kastrovať

🇨🇳 阉割 (Yānguā)

🇸🇮 kastrirati

🇮🇸 gelda

🇰🇿 піштірту (píshtírtu)

🇬🇪 კასტრაცია (kastratsia)

🇦🇿 kastrasiya

🇲🇽 castrar

Word origin

The word 'spay' originated in the mid-20th century in the United States. It comes from the Old French word 'espeer', which means 'to cut with a sharp instrument'. The practice of spaying animals became more common as a way to control the population of stray animals and prevent overbreeding.