Completely removed or destroyed something, especially a plant, animal, or idea so thoroughly that none of it remains.
From Latin 'extirpare' (ex- 'out' + stirps 'root, stem'), meaning to pull out by the roots. The word evolved through Medieval Latin into Old French before entering English in the 16th century, maintaining its metaphorical sense of complete removal.
When scientists say a species is 'extirpated' from a region, they mean it's gone from there but might still exist elsewhere—different from 'extinct,' which means gone forever everywhere. This distinction has become crucial in modern conservation biology, helping us understand whether animals like wolves can be reintroduced to places where they once lived.
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