— mutilation , n. — mutilative, mutilatory /myooht"l euh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , adj. — mutilator , n.
/myooht"l ayt'/ , v.t., mutilated, mutilating .
1. to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts: Vandals mutilated the painting.
2. to deprive (a person or animal) of a limb or other essential part.
[ 1525-35; mutilatus (ptp. of mutilare to cut off, maim), equiv. to mutil ( us ) maimed, mutilated + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. damage, mar, cripple. 2. See maim .