də̇ˈkapəˌtāt, dēˈ-, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Late Latin decapitatus, past participle of decapitare, from Latin de from, away + Late Latin -capitare (from capit-, caput head) — more at de- , head
1. : to cut off the head of : kill by beheading : behead
2. : to remove summarily from office for political reasons
the incoming administration decapitated many officeholders
3. : to make ineffective : destroy
a surprise attack on New York … could decapitate a wide segment of American business — D.F.Cavers