defecate

defecate Definition

def·e·cate (def′i kāt′)

transitive verb -·cat′ed, -·cat′·ing

to remove impurities from; refine (sugar, wine, etc.)

Etymology: < L defaecatus, pp. of defaecare, to cleanse from dregs, strain < de-, from + faex (gen. faecis), grounds, dregs

intransitive verb

defecate Related Forms

def′·e·ca′·tion noun def′·e·ca′·tor noun

defecate Synonyms

move (one's) bowels, void, excrete, pass; see excrete.

defecate Usage Examples

Object

time: Mice defecate many times and continually dribble urine so there is an urgent need to take control.

Preposition: on

land: Grazing animals would defecate on the land and give back the transformed goodness of the plants they had eaten in their manure.
stage: His act consisted of singing Beatles songs whilst defecating on stage.

Modifying Another Word

not: Something about not defecating on one's own doorstep, maybe!
even: Scarring can damage the vent, making egg laying and even defecating impossible.
then: If you vomit or defecate then you will be lighter to run from an attacker and are less appetizing as a potential meal.
n't: The animals do n't defecate in it and we don't have to queue up at all.

Preposition: in

place: More prosaically, even to defecate twice in the same place is to anger the local gods.
bush: The majority of the population ( 57.5 per cent ) have no latrines in their homes, and must defecate in the bush.
area: Overall, these results show that the mice defecated in localized areas and preferred to defecate in areas containing sawdust.

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