First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
spay
transitive verb \ˈspā, ÷ ˈspād\
: to remove the sex organs of (a female animal) : to make (a female animal) unable to have babies
spayed \ˈspād, ÷ ˈspā-dəd\ spay·ing \ˈspā-iŋ, ÷ ˈspā-diŋ\
Full Definition of SPAY
: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)
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Origin of SPAY
Middle English, from Anglo-French espeer to pierce, castrate, from espee sword, from Latin spatha sword — more at spade
Rhymes with SPAY
a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, Spey, splay, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea
SPAY Defined for Kids
spay
verb \ˈspā\
spayedspay·ing
Definition of SPAY for Kids
: to remove the ovaries of (a female animal) <a spayed cat>
Medical Dictionary
spay
transitive verb \ˈspā\
spayedspay·ing
Medical Definition of SPAY
: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)
Learn More About SPAY
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