spay
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to remove the ovaries of (an animal).
noun
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a three-year-old male red deer.
verb
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(tr) to remove the ovaries, and usually the uterus, from (a female animal)
Other Word Forms
- unspayed adjective
Etymology
Origin of spay1
1375–1425; late Middle English spayen < Anglo-French espeïer to cut with a sword ( Old French espeer ), derivative of espee sword; épée
Origin of spay2
1375–1425; late Middle English < ?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To help control the population, the city launched the Citywide Cat Program in 2022, which provides funding to help organizations humanely catch cats, spay or neuter them, and release them back into the wild.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026
His legislation would also provide free vaccinations and spay or neuter services to the felines.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
A dog spay is on average about £300.
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2024
“Once they learned about the problems and were given opportunities” to spay, neuter and vaccinate, most people took charge, he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2024
“Thank you for your call. Please spay or neuter your pets.”
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.