to leave a place or to order or force people to leave it because it is dangerous
Firefighters ordered everyone to evacuate the burning building right away.
The government evacuated thousands of people ahead of the hurricane.
✦ From late Middle English evacuaten, from Latin evacuātus, past participle of ēvacuō ('to empty, evacuate'), from ex- ('out') + vacuus ('empty').
to empty or discharge bodily waste matter from (the bowels)
The laxative medicine helps to evacuate the bowels effectively.
After taking the tablets, the patient evacuated his bowels.
✦ Medical usage derives from the general sense of 'emptying out', via Latin roots.
the action of leaving or removing people from a place of danger to a safer location.
The evacuation of the flooded town began at dawn.
Firefighters ordered the immediate evacuation of the burning apartment block.
✦ From French évacuation, from Late Latin ēvacuātiōnem (accusative singular of ēvacuātiō), from Latin ēvacuō (“to empty, evacuate”), from ē- + vacuus (“empty”).
the emptying of the bowels or bladder.
The medicine aided the patient's evacuation after surgery.
Poor evacuation can cause discomfort.
✦ Same as general sense; medical usage from the idea of 'emptying out' the body.
