Meaning & use
gelded
Last updated
“gelded” is a form of “geld”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounspecialist
Describing a male horse or other male animal that has had its testicles removed.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a gelded horse, the colt was gelded.
Patterns
- a gelded horse
- be gelded
The gelded horse is calmer than a stallion and easier to train.
The vet said the colt would be gelded in the spring.
Gelded males are common in riding schools.
adjectivecomparablefigurativeliterary
Weakened or stripped of strength, as a plan or institution that has lost its power.
Grammar: Figurative: a gelded law.
Patterns
- a gelded version of something
Critics called the new law a gelded version of the original proposal.
A gelded committee had no real authority.
The studio released a gelded cut of the film.
verbtransitivespecialist
Past tense and past participle of geld: removed the testicles of a male animal.
Grammar: Takes an object: they gelded the colt.
Patterns
- geld an animal
The farmer gelded the young ram.
The foal had been gelded at a year old.
They gelded the horse to make it calmer.
Word forms
| base form | geld |
|---|---|
| third person singular | gelds |
| -ing form | gelding |
Common combinations
- gelded horse
- A gelded horse is often used for riding.
- was gelded
- The colt was gelded last year.
- gelded male
- The gelded male kept calm around the mares.
- gelded version
- A gelded version of the bill passed.
- newly gelded
- The newly gelded pony needed rest.
Synonyms and how they differ
- castrated
- Castrated is the general term for removing the testicles of any male animal or person, while gelded is mainly used for horses.
- neutered
- Neutered is the usual word for pets like cats and dogs, and it can also include females.
- emasculated
- Emasculated is mostly figurative and means weakened, whereas gelded is a literal term first.
- watered-down
- Watered-down is the everyday phrase for a weaker version of something, with no animal meaning.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gelded or gilded? gelded or gelled?
gelded vs gilded
Gilded means covered with a thin layer of gold, as in a gilded frame. It sounds similar but has a different meaning.
gelded vs gelled
Gelled means formed into a gel or turned out well, as in plans gelled.
Practice
The riding school keeps only ____ males because they are calmer around young children.
Choose one answer.
Gelded refers to castrated male horses. Gilded means covered in gold, and the other options do not describe horses.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gelded”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.