defecate

UK: /ˈdɛfəkeɪt/ US: /ˈdɛfɪˌkeɪt/ ,(def′i kāt′)

Inflections of 'defecate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

defecates

v 3rd person singular

defecating

v pres p

defecated

v past

defecated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

def•e•cate /ˈdɛfɪˌkeɪt/   v. [no obj], -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. Physiology to pass waste matter from the bowels through the anus out of the body.

def•e•ca•tion /ˌdɛfɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -fec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

def•e•cate  (def′i kāt′), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 
v.i. 

1. Physiology to void excrement from the bowels through the anus;
   have a bowel movement.
2. to become clear of dregs, impurities, etc.

v.t. 

3. to clear of dregs, impurities, etc.;
   purify;
   refine.

• Latin dēfaecātus (past participle of dēfaecāre to cleanse, refine), equivalent. to dē- de- + faec- (stem of faex dregs, sediment) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1565–75

def′e•ca′tion, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

defecate, defaecate / ˈdɛfɪˌkeɪt/ verb

1. (intransitive) to discharge waste from the body through the anus
2. (transitive) to clarify or remove impurities from (a solution, esp of sugar)

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dēfaecāre to cleanse from dregs, from de- + faex sediment, dregs

ˌdefeˈcation, ˌdefaeˈcation noun

ˈdefeˌcator, ˈdefaeˌcator noun