What does defecate mean Meaning and Definition
What does defecate mean
Pronunciation
/dɪˈfɛkɪteɪt/
Part of Speech
Verb
Definition
The act of evacuating waste from the body, usually through the anus, often accompanied by the excretion of feces.
Examples
- Humans defecate on a regular basis, making it an essential bodily function.
- The cat defecated on the carpet, leaving a unpleasant stain.
Synonyms
- Eliminate
- Unload
- Discharge
Antonyms
- Retain
- Hold back
Etymology
The word “defecate” comes from the Latin “defecare”, which means “to empty” or “to clear out”. This Latin term is derived from “de”, meaning “from” or “away”, and “facere”, meaning “to do” or “to make”.
Usage Notes
Defecate is often used in medical and scientific contexts to describe the act of evacuating waste from the body. It can also be used in everyday conversation to refer to the act of bathroom habits.
Cultural References
In popular culture, defecation is often depicted as a natural and essential part of life, but also as something that can be messy and unpleasant.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Some common idiomatic expressions that include the word “defecate” include “defecate on” or “defecate onto”, which means to leave a mark or a stain, often figuratively.
Related Words or Phrases
- Excrete
- Evacuate
- Evacuation
Collocations
- Defecate regularly
- Defecate in the toilet
Frequency of Use
The word “defecate” is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it is frequently used in medical and scientific contexts.
Common Misspellings
Some common misspellings of the word “defecate” include “deficate”, “deficete”, and “deficat”.