Extirpation is spelled with a silent "x" and pronounced as /ɪkˌstɜːrˈpeɪʃən/. The "x" in the beginning of the word is a common spelling pattern in many English words, including "xylophone" and "xenophobia". The IPA phonetic transcription of the word helps to break down the pronunciation of each syllable - "ik-stur-pay-shun". The word means to completely remove or destroy something, usually used in reference to eradication of pests or diseases.
Extirpation refers to the act of completely eradicating, removing, or destroying something, often with the intention of permanently eliminating it. This term is particularly used in the context of eliminating a species, population, or practice.
In the field of ecology and environmental sciences, extirpation specifically pertains to the local extinction of a species in a particular geographic area, while it continues to exist elsewhere. It implies the disappearance or removal of a species from a specific habitat or region due to various factors such as habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, or the introduction of invasive species. For example, the extirpation of wolves from certain regions in North America occurred as a result of human activities and changes in land use.
Apart from ecological contexts, extirpation can also be used to describe the removal or eradication of a cultural, religious, or social practice. For instance, the extirpation of certain cultural traditions may occur when they are no longer deemed acceptable or when new beliefs and practices replace older ones.
Overall, extirpation describes the complete removal or destruction of something, whether it be a species, a population, or a cultural practice, commonly with the aim of eliminating it permanently from a specific area or context.
The entire removal of an organ or part or of a pathological structure.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Total destruction; the act of rooting out.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "extirpation" is derived from the Latin word "extirpāre", which is a combination of the prefix "ex-" meaning "out" or "away", and the verb "stirpāre" meaning "to root out" or "to destroy completely". The term was later adapted into Old French as "estirper" and then into Middle English as "extirpen". Over time, it evolved to its current form "extirpation", which refers to the complete eradication or removal of something, particularly in the context of eliminating a species or a population from a specific area.