emaciate - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
emaciate Word Meanings
- to make someone very thin because of illness or lack of food
- to weaken someone emotionally or morally
- to cause to lose flesh or weight
emaciate Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
emaciate Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪˈmeɪʃ.i.ət/
US
/ɪˈmeɪʃ.i.ət/
emaciate Word Etymology
emaciate = e- (out) + maciare (make lean). Origin: Latin → Old French → English. Picture a person standing on a scale, their face showing starvation, to vividly remember how they have been drained of strength and appearance.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Emaciate means to make someone very thin due to illness or lack of food, to weaken someone emotionally or morally, or to cause to lose flesh or weight. The term comes from Latin e (out) + maciare (to make lean), passing through Old French into English. In everyday use, it is strong and clinical; you might hear doctors, historians, or period drama narrators describe a famine-stricken figure. Imagine a person on a scale with hollow cheeks and sunken eyes, a vivid cue for the drained strength and appearance.
Usage Reminders
- Do not use for casual dieting; expect a strong, clinical tone; often linked to illness; not a neutral or everyday word; watch for transitive use; pairs with nouns like appearance or weight.
Common Misconceptions
- Only physical skinnyness counts; emotional weakening is also possible
- It can be used for minor weight loss
- It is interchangeable with 'thin' or 'slim' in everyday speech
- Animals or inanimate objects can emaciate
- It describes deliberate dieting or cosmetic weight loss
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: emaciate is a strong, somewhat clinical verb describing severe weight loss or weakening, not casual dieting; learners often confuse it with merely being thin.
Learning Tips
- Pair emaciate with words like gaunt, haggard, or wasted to describe appearances
- Remember it is transitive; you emaciate someone or something can emaciate a person
- Contrast with 'thin' or 'slim' which are milder
- Use in medical, historical, or literary contexts rather than casual talk
- Watch for collocations like 'emaciate appearance' or 'emaciate figure'
- Know the noun form emaciation to discuss the process
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the definition of 'emaciate'?
A.To make thin or weak
B.To decorate elaborately
C.To confuse someone
D.To assemble a group
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'emaciate' correctly?
A.The artist will emaciate the canvas with bright colors.
B.After months of illness, he began to emaciate significantly.
C.The chef decided to emaciate the dish with more salt.
D.They plan to emaciate the building with new designs.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'emaciate'?
A.Malnourish
B.Overfeed
C.Decorate
D.Compile
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'emaciate'?
A.Add
B.Weaken
C.Thicken
D.Decrease
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context where someone might become emaciated?
A.Due to the famine, many individuals began to lose weight drastically.
B.He developed a healthy muscle tone after training.
C.They decided to emaciate the party plans with elaborate decorations.
D.The cat looked fit and energetic.
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