Enucleate is a verb that means to remove something completely, particularly a tumor or an organ. The IPA phonetic transcription of enucleate is /ɪˈnjuːklieɪt/. The "e" in the first syllable is pronounced like "ee," while the "u" in the second syllable is pronounced like "you." The final syllable "-ate" is pronounced like "eight." In terms of spelling, enucleate is derived from the Latin "enucleatus," which means "extracted from the shell," with the prefix "e-" indicating "out of."
Enucleate is a verb that typically refers to the act of removing or extracting something, particularly a core or center, from a surrounding structure. The origin of the word can be traced back to the Latin term "enucleatus," which means "to remove the kernel."
In a medical context, enucleate often describes the surgical process of removing a tumor or growth without damaging the surrounding tissues. It can also describe the procedure of removing the entire eye while preserving the ocular muscles and the overlying tissues.
Enucleate can also be used metaphorically to depict the process of isolating or extracting an essential element or essence from a larger whole. In this context, it implies isolating something from its context or surroundings to better understand or analyze it. For instance, in philosophical or scientific discussions, one may use enucleate to describe the process of isolating a particular concept, principle, or phenomenon from a complex set of conditions or variables for deeper examination.
Overall, whether used in a medical or metaphorical sense, enucleate connotes the process of removing or extracting a central or crucial element, either physically or intellectually, while doing so with precision and care.
1. To remove entire, shell out like a nut. 2. To destroy or remove the nucleus (of a cell).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "enucleate" is derived from the Latin roots "e" meaning "out" or "away", and "nucleus" meaning "core", or "kernel". The suffix "-ate" is commonly added to verbs in English to form a verb from a noun or adjective. Thus, "enucleate" literally means to remove or extract the core or nucleus of something.