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defecating

 - 5 dictionary results

def⋅e⋅cate

  [def-i-keyt] verb, -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.
Use defecating in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to void excrement from the bowels through the anus; have a bowel movement.
2. to become clear of dregs, impurities, etc.
–verb (used with object)
3. to clear of dregs, impurities, etc.; purify; refine.
Origin:
1565–75; < L dēfaecātus (ptp. of dēfaecāre to cleanse, refine), equiv. to dē- de- + faec- (s. of faex dregs, sediment) + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
def⋅e⋅ca⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defecating
def·e·cate   (děf'ĭ-kāt')   
v.   def·e·cat·ed, def·e·cat·ing, def·e·cates

v.   intr.
To void feces from the bowels.
v.   tr.

  1. To remove (impurities, as in a chemical solution); clarify.

  2. To void (feces) from the bowels.


[Latin dēfaecāre, to clean the dregs from : dē-, de- + faex, faec-, dregs.]
def'e·ca'tion n., def'e·ca'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

defecate 
1575, "to purify," from L. defæcatus, pp. of defæcare "cleanse from dregs, purify," from the phrase de fæce "from dregs," pl. fæces "feces." Excretory sense first recorded 1830 (defecation), Amer.Eng., from Fr.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: def·e·cate
Variant: or chiefly British def·ae·cate /'def-i-"kAt/
Function: verb
Inflected Forms:-cat·ed; -cat·ing
transitive senses
: to discharge from the anus defecate intransitive senses
: to discharge feces fromthe bowels
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

defecate def·e·cate (děf'ĭ-kāt')
v. def·e·cat·ed, def·e·cat·ing, def·e·cates
To void feces from the bowels.

def'e·ca'tion n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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