ˈekstə(r)ˌpāt also ekˈstərˌp- or ikˈs- or -ˈstə̄ˌp- or -ˈstəiˌp- or ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷; usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin exstirpatus, extirpatus, past participle of exstirpare, extirpare, from ex- ex- (I) + stirp-, stirps trunk, root — more at torpid
1.
a. : to pull up or out by or as if by the roots or stem : pluck out : root out : eradicate
serpent worship which the Mosaic curse and Christianity alike have not succeeded in extirpating — Norman Douglas
b. : to destroy totally : wipe out : kill off : make extinct : exterminate
many species have been extirpated from large areas — William Vogt
c. : to cut out by surgery
2. obsolete : to drive away : expel
Synonyms: see exterminate