The meaning of Killing

verb

Surprise (someone) greatly; fill with astonishment.

Usage examples:

She amazed doctors by fighting back when her deteriorating condition caused her to suffer heart fai…

verb

To cause someone to be extremely surprised

Usage examples:

The prices they’re getting for vegetables just amaze me., i’m amazed at how well your little girl c…

adjective

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

Usage examples:

An arduous journey

adjective

Difficult and tiring, or needing a great deal of effort

Usage examples:

In those days, a trip to the west was an arduous journey.

verb

Murder (an important person) for political or religious reasons.

Usage examples:

The organization's leader had been assassinated four months before the coup

verb

To murder a famous or important person, esp. for political reasons or in exchange for money

Usage examples:

President kennedy was assassinated in dallas, texas, in 1963., the assassination of john lennon

noun

The action of assassinating someone.

Usage examples:

A failed assassination attempt

verb

Surprise or impress (someone) greatly.

Usage examples:

You never fail to astonish me

verb

To surprise someone very much

Usage examples:

We were astonished at how much she had aged., it was astonishing to see the size of the crowds for …

verb

Charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive way.

Usage examples:

He beguiled the voters with his good looks

verb

To charm, attract, or interest, sometimes in order to deceive

Usage examples:

I had to show i was not beguiled by his good looks., a beguiling smile

noun

A large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side.

Usage examples:

A block of marble

verb

Make the movement or flow in (a passage, pipe, road, etc.) difficult or impossible.

Usage examples:

The narrow roads were blocked by cars

verb

Obstruct

noun

The killing or wounding of people, typically on a large scale during a conflict.

Usage examples:

Only serious compromises can prevent more bloodshed and violence

noun

A great amount of killing and injury

Usage examples:

The government must find a way to restore order and end the bloodshed.

noun

A person whose trade is cutting up and selling meat in a shop.

Usage examples:

Markets often have butchers or cooked meat shops that specialize in the head and trotters, that is,…

verb

Slaughter or cut up (an animal) for food.

Usage examples:

A ban on butchering downer cows - animals that stagger, can't walk, or exhibit other signs of bse-w…

adjective

Having an appearance or other qualities of a type traditionally seen as masculine.

Usage examples:

A butch woman in a baseball cap

noun

The work of slaughtering animals and preparing them for sale as meat.

Usage examples:

If women were in the encampment they would be segregated and would prepare the meal, although slaug…

noun

The killing of a large number of people.

Usage examples:

The bombing was timed to cause as much carnage as possible

noun

The violent killing of large numbers of people, esp. in war

Usage examples:

The battle of gettysburg was a scene of dreadful carnage.

verb

Compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break, damage, or distort in shape.

Usage examples:

The front of his car was crushed in the collision

noun

A crowd of people pressed closely together.

Usage examples:

A number of youngsters fainted in the crush

verb

To press something very hard so that it is broken or its shape is destroyed

Usage examples:

The package got crushed in the mail., her car was crushed by a falling tree., i was crushed because…

adjective

Causing overwhelming disappointment or embarrassment.

Usage examples:

The news came as a crushing blow

verb

Compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break, damage, or distort in shape.

Usage examples:

The front of his car was crushed in the collision

adjective

Able or likely to cause harm or injury.

Usage examples:

A dangerous animal

adjective

Able or likely to cause harm or death, or unpleasant problems

Usage examples:

Dangerous chemicals/bacteria, whooping cough is most dangerous for infants., dangerously high winds

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

adjective

Causing or able to cause death.

Usage examples:

A deadly weapon

adverb

In a way resembling or suggesting death; as if dead.

Usage examples:

Her skin was deadly pale

adjective

Dangerous and able to kill

Usage examples:

A deadly poison

adjective

Resembling or suggestive of death.

Usage examples:

A deathly hush fell over the breakfast table

adjective

Seeming like death

Usage examples:

Madeline looked deathly pale., the crowd was deathly silent.

adjective

(of a disease or condition) making someone very weak and infirm.

Usage examples:

Debilitating back pain

verb

Make (someone) very weak and infirm.

Usage examples:

He was severely debilitated by a stomach upset

verb

Win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat.

Usage examples:

Garibaldi defeated the neapolitan army

noun

An instance of defeating or being defeated.

Usage examples:

A 1–0 defeat by grimsby

verb

To oppose and cause someone to lose in a competition or war so that you can win

Usage examples:

Bill clinton defeated george bush for the presidency in 1992., [ u ] in the american civil war, the…

adjective

(of a task) requiring much skill or effort.

Usage examples:

She has a busy and demanding job

verb

Ask authoritatively or brusquely.

Usage examples:

‘where is she?’ he demanded

adjective

Needing a lot of attention, effort, or time

Usage examples:

I’m trying to learn english, and i find it very demanding.

verb

Cause (a train or tram) to leave its tracks accidentally.

Usage examples:

A train was derailed after it collided with a herd of cattle

verb

To cause a train to run off the tracks

Usage examples:

Fig. renewed fighting threatens to derail the peace talks (= stop them from continuing).

verb

To stop something from succeeding

Usage examples:

Investors are very concerned that a new crisis could derail the economic recovery., analysts identi…

verb

End the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.

Usage examples:

The room had been destroyed by fire

verb

To damage something, esp. in a violent way, so that it can no longer be used or no longer exists

Usage examples:

You can use a shredder to destroy old bank statements., losing his job seemed to completely destroy…

noun

The action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired.

Usage examples:

The destruction of the rainforest

noun

The action of destroying something, or the state of being destroyed

Usage examples:

Unusually high winds left widespread destruction over the area., the child needs help to control hi…

adjective

Causing great and irreparable damage.

Usage examples:

The destructive power of weapons

adjective

Causing, or able to cause, damage

Usage examples:

Destructive power the destructive power of nuclear weapons, i worry about the destructive effect th…

verb

Send off to a destination or for a purpose.

Usage examples:

He dispatched messages back to base

noun

The sending of someone or something to a destination or for a purpose.

Usage examples:

A resolution authorizing the dispatch of a peacekeeping force

verb

To send someone or something to a place for a particular purpose

Usage examples:

Within seconds the university police can identify the exact origin of the alarm and dispatch office…

verb

Cause the water or other liquid in (something) to run out, leaving it empty or dry.

Usage examples:

We drained the swimming pool

noun

A channel or pipe carrying off surplus liquid, especially rainwater or liquid waste.

Usage examples:

The room's toilet pipes and shower drains carry this waste to a holding tank.

noun

A thing that uses up a particular resource.

Usage examples:

Nuclear power is a serious drain on the public purse

verb

Greatly astonish or amaze.

Usage examples:

I was dumbfounded by the low prices there

verb

Completely remove or get rid of (something).

Usage examples:

A policy that would eliminate inflation

verb

To remove or take away something

Usage examples:

You can never totally eliminate the possibility of human error., arts programs face elimination in …

verb

To completely remove something that is not wanted or needed

Usage examples:

The problem we confront today is there is no one thing that can eliminate our dependency on petrole…

noun

The complete removal or destruction of something.

Usage examples:

The elimination of extreme poverty is a key objective

noun

The process of removing something

Usage examples:

The elimination of disease/pain, their elimination from the competition, we eventually found the an…

noun

A final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.

Usage examples:

The end of the year

verb

Come or bring to a final point; finish.

Usage examples:

When the war ended, policy changed

suffix

Denoting a person or thing to be treated in a specified way.

Usage examples:

Dividend

adjective

Causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality.

Usage examples:

The enervating humidity of the coast

verb

Make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality.

Usage examples:

The heat enervated us all

adjective

Causing you to feel weak and lacking in energy

Usage examples:

We found it enervating to work in the humid jungle heat.

verb

Put (a plan, order, or course of action) into effect.

Usage examples:

The corporation executed a series of financial deals

verb

To do or perform something planned

Usage examples:

Now that we have approval, we can go ahead and execute the plan.

verb

To do or perform something in a planned way

Usage examples:

Local authority officials will check that the work is being executed according to the plans submitt…

noun

The carrying out of a plan, order, or course of action.

Usage examples:

He was fascinated by the entire operation and its execution

noun

The act of doing or performing something in a planned way

Usage examples:

The guitarist’s execution of the ballad was superb., [ u ] execution is still a penalty for murder.

noun

The act of doing or performing something in a planned way

Usage examples:

Effective operations managers require advanced skills in design, planning, and execution., the exec…

adjective

Making one feel very tired; very tiring.

Usage examples:

A long and exhausting journey

verb

Make (someone) feel very tired.

Usage examples:

Her day out had exhausted her

adjective

Making you feel extremely tired

Usage examples:

The pace of twelve-hour days, seven days a week proved exhausting.

verb

Spend or use up (a resource such as money or energy).

Usage examples:

The energy expended in sport could be directed into other areas

verb

To use or spend something, esp. time, effort, or money

Usage examples:

They expend all their energy fixing up their house.

verb

To use or spend something, especially time, effort, or money

Usage examples:

Expend energy/effort/time why do firms expend effort investing abroad, rather than staying home and…

verb

Cause (a fire or light) to cease to burn or shine.

Usage examples:

Firemen were soaking everything to extinguish the blaze

verb

To stop a fire or light from burning

Usage examples:

It took the firefighters four hours to extinguish the flames.

verb

To take something away, for example a right to do something

Usage examples:

A deed restriction extinguishes the right to use or develop a property for certain things., with in…

adjective

Causing death.

Usage examples:

A fatal accident

adjective

(of illness, accidents, etc.) causing death

Usage examples:

A fatal heart attack, a fatal mistake/flaw, several people were injured, two fatally.

verb

Cause (someone) to feel exhausted.

Usage examples:

They were fatigued by their journey

noun

Extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.

Usage examples:

He was nearly dead with fatigue

noun

Weakness in metal or other materials caused by repeated variations of stress.

Usage examples:

Metal fatigue

verb

Cause (a space or container) to become full or almost full.

Usage examples:

I filled the bottle with water

noun

An amount of something which is as much as one wants or can bear.

Usage examples:

We have eaten our fill

verb

Make full, also in a metaphorical sense

adjective

Coming at the end of a series.

Usage examples:

The final version of the report was presented

noun

The last game in a sports tournament or other competition, which will decide the winner of the tournament.

Usage examples:

The winners of the semi-finals will take part in a county final to decide the winner.

adjective

Last

Usage examples:

The other team scored twice in the final minute., the recommendation will be sent to the city counc…

verb

Surprise (someone) greatly; astonish.

Usage examples:

News that activists could be fined for protesting against the policy will flabbergast most people

verb

To shock someone, usually by telling that person something they were not expecting

Usage examples:

He was flabbergasted when we told him how cheap it was.

phrasal verb

Spend frivolously and unwisely

phrasal verb

To waste money, time, or an opportunity

Usage examples:

Retirees must plan how to fill their hours or they risk frittering the time away.

verb

Prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled.

Usage examples:

The rescue attempt was frustrated by bad weather

adjective

Frustrated.

Hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire

adjective

Extremely tiring and demanding.

Usage examples:

A gruelling schedule

adjective

Capable of or tending towards murder; murderous.

Usage examples:

He had homicidal tendencies

adjective

Likely to murder

Usage examples:

A homicidal maniac

noun

The killing of one person by another.

Usage examples:

He was charged with homicide

noun

The crime of killing a person; murder

Usage examples:

[ u ] he was convicted of homicide.

adjective

Sufficient to cause death.

Usage examples:

A lethal cocktail of drink and pills

adjective

Able to cause or causing death; extremely dangerous

Usage examples:

A lethal weapon

adjective

Able to cause death

Usage examples:

A life-threatening experience/illness

noun

The process of liquidating a business.

Usage examples:

The company went into liquidation

noun

A situation in which a company stops operating and sells all its assets in order to pay its debts

Usage examples:

Go into liquidation after three years of heavy losses the company went into liquidation with debts …

noun

The crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought, or in circumstances not amounting to murder.

Usage examples:

The defendant was convicted of manslaughter

noun

The crime of killing someone unintentionally or without having planned to do it

Usage examples:

He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison.

noun

The death or suffering of a martyr.

Usage examples:

The martyrdom of st anthony

noun

A martyr’s suffering or death

Usage examples:

The martyrdom of st. catherine

noun

An indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of many people.

Usage examples:

The attack was described as a cold-blooded massacre

verb

Deliberately and brutally kill (many people).

Usage examples:

Thousands were brutally massacred by soldiers

noun

The killing of a large number of people, esp. people who are not involved in any fighting or have no way of defending themselves

Usage examples:

Guerrilla troops are thought to have massacred the entire village.

adjective

(of a living human being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death.

Usage examples:

All men are mortal

noun

A human being subject to death, as opposed to a divine being.

Usage examples:

Capacities only possible of god rather than mortals

adjective

(of living things, esp. people) unable to continue living forever; having to die

Usage examples:

Humans are mortal and we all eventually die., as the ship began to sink, they realized they were in…

verb

Go in a specified direction or manner; change position.

Usage examples:

She moved to the door

noun

A change of place, position, or state.

Usage examples:

She made a sudden move towards me

verb

Change location

noun

The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

Usage examples:

The brutal murder of a german holidaymaker

verb

Kill (someone) unlawfully and with premeditation.

Usage examples:

He was accused of murdering his wife's lover

verb

Unlawful premeditated killing of a human being

adjective

Capable of or intending to murder; dangerously violent.

Usage examples:

A brutal and murderous despot

adjective

Involving murder or violence

Usage examples:

The murderous reign of the emperor caligula

verb

Reside or have one's place of business in (a building).

Usage examples:

The rented flat she occupies in hampstead

verb

Live in (a certain place)

verb

(of an army or group of people) to move into and take control or possession of a place

Usage examples:

Nationalist forces now occupy more than 70% of the country., a large couch occupies most of the spa…

adjective

(of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty.

Usage examples:

He found his duties increasingly onerous

adjective

Causing great difficulty or trouble

Usage examples:

The tax bill was aimed at lifting the onerous tax burden from the backs of the middle class.

verb

Bury or drown beneath a huge mass of something, especially water.

Usage examples:

Floodwaters overwhelmed hundreds of houses

verb

Move or cause to move in a specified direction.

Usage examples:

He passed through towns and villages

noun

An act or instance of moving past or through something.

Usage examples:

Repeated passes with the swipe card

exclamation

Said when one does not know the answer to a question, for example in a quiz.

Usage examples:

To the enigmatic question we answered ‘pass’

verb

Keep (something) from happening.

Usage examples:

Action must be taken to prevent further accidents

verb

To stop something from happening or someone from doing something

Usage examples:

The police tried to prevent him from leaving., can this type of accident be prevented?, fortunately…

verb

Throw oneself flat on the ground so as to be lying face downwards, especially in reverence or submission.

Usage examples:

She prostrated herself on the bare floor of the church

adjective

Lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downwards.

Usage examples:

There was a man praying before an idol, lying prostrate

adjective

Completely overcome or helpless, especially with distress or exhaustion.

Usage examples:

His wife was prostrate with shock

adjective

Physically and mentally demanding; arduous.

Usage examples:

The band's punishing tour schedule

verb

Inflict a penalty or sanction on (someone) as retribution for an offence, especially a transgression of a legal or moral code.

Usage examples:

I have done wrong and i'm being punished for it

adjective

Extremely difficult or tiring

Usage examples:

A punishing schedule

verb

Reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.

Usage examples:

His conviction was quashed on appeal

verb

To stop or block something from happening

Usage examples:

The secretary of defense tried to quash speculation that he was planning to resign following the di…

verb

To state officially that something, especially an earlier official decision, is no longer to be accepted

Usage examples:

Quash a conviction/decision/order his conviction was quashed in march after a lengthy legal battle.…

verb

Put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.

Usage examples:

Extra police were called to quell the disturbance

verb

To completely stop or end something

Usage examples:

The police were called in to quell the riot., he’s been unable to quell his wife’s suspicions.

adjective

Unceasingly intense.

Usage examples:

The relentless heat of the desert

adjective

Extremely thorough and careful.

Usage examples:

The rigorous testing of consumer products

adjective

Severe or difficult, esp. because at a high level

Usage examples:

Rigorous standards of accuracy, the manhattan district attorney’s office had a pretty rigorous trai…

adjective

Detailed and careful

Usage examples:

I want rigorous financial analysis of the options., the selection process is extremely rigorous., a…

noun

The physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed.

Usage examples:

A large white house falling into gentle ruin

verb

Reduce (a building or place) to a state of decay, collapse, or disintegration.

Usage examples:

The castle was ruined when dynamite was used to demolish one of the corner towers

verb

To spoil or destroy something

Usage examples:

It would be a shame to ruin such a beautiful place., that guy isn’t going to ruin my life.

verb

Gradually weaken or destroy (a person's strength or power).

Usage examples:

Our energy is being sapped by bureaucrats and politicians

verb

Dig a sap or saps.

Usage examples:

Having sapped up to the glacis of the city ramparts, versaillais troops entered the city

verb

Hit with a bludgeon or club.

Usage examples:

It was nice to see someone else get sapped for a change

verb

Decisively put an end to.

Usage examples:

A spokesman has scotched the rumours

noun

A wedge placed under a wheel or other rolling object to prevent it moving or slipping.

noun

A cut or score in skin or another surface.

Usage examples:

A scotch in his face

verb

(of a structure or area of land) tremble or vibrate.

Usage examples:

Buildings shook in sacramento and tremors were felt in reno

noun

An act of shaking.

Usage examples:

She gave her red curls a shake

verb

Move or cause to move back and forth

verb

Break or cause to break suddenly and violently into pieces.

Usage examples:

Bullets riddled the bar top, glasses shattered, bottles exploded

verb

Kill (animals) for food.

Usage examples:

At present the abattoir is slaughtering animals for the domestic market

noun

The killing of animals for food.

Usage examples:

Thousands of calves were exported to the continent for slaughter

noun

The killing of animals for their meat, or the killing of large numbers of animals in a cruel manner

Usage examples:

We must find ways of reducing the slaughter on the highways (= deaths of many people in car acciden…

verb

Violently break (something) into pieces.

Usage examples:

The thief smashed a window to get into the car

noun

An act or sound of something smashing.

Usage examples:

He heard the smash of glass

adverb

With a sudden, violent shattering.

Usage examples:

They were together for an instant, and then smash it was all gone

verb

Give (money) to pay for goods, services, or so as to benefit someone or something.

Usage examples:

The firm has spent £100,000 on hardware

noun

An amount of money paid out.

Usage examples:

The average spend at the cafe is £10 a head

verb

Walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.

Usage examples:

He staggered to his feet, swaying a little

noun

An unsteady walk or movement.

Usage examples:

She walked with a stagger

verb

Walk with great difficulty

verb

Move a spoon or other implement round in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly.

Usage examples:

Desmond stirred his tea and ate a biscuit

noun

A slight physical movement.

Usage examples:

I stood, straining eyes and ears for the faintest stir

noun

Prison.

Usage examples:

I've spent twenty-eight years in stir

verb

(of an event, action, or process) come to an end; cease to happen.

Usage examples:

His laughter stopped as quickly as it had begun

noun

A cessation of movement or operation.

Usage examples:

All business came to a stop

verb

Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense

adjective

Requiring or using great effort or exertion.

Usage examples:

The government made strenuous efforts to upgrade the quality of the teaching profession

adjective

Needing or using a lot of effort or energy

Usage examples:

I think football is much more strenuous than baseball., he strenuously denies that he is guilty.

verb

Knock unconscious or into a dazed or semi-conscious state.

Usage examples:

The man was stunned by a blow to the head

verb

Make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow

verb

To shock someone so much that the person does not know how to react

Usage examples:

She was stunned by his generous offer., he was stunned by the sudden blow to his head.

adjective

Physically or mentally demanding.

Usage examples:

They find the work too taxing

verb

Impose a tax on (someone or something).

Usage examples:

The income will be taxed at the top rate

adjective

Needing too much effort

Usage examples:

After the surgery, i couldn’t do anything too taxing for a while.

verb

Bring to an end.

Usage examples:

He was advised to terminate the contract

verb

To end or stop, or to cause something to end or stop

Usage examples:

[ i ] trains that used to terminate in hoboken now run into new york., [ t ] it sounded like she wa…

verb

To end or to make something end

Usage examples:

The takeover talks terminated without agreement., how do i terminate my subscription?, terminate a …

verb

Prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

Usage examples:

He never did anything to thwart his father

noun

A structural crosspiece forming a seat for a rower in a boat.

Usage examples:

Her hull is painted white with blue trim on the thwarts.

preposition

From one side to another side of (an area); across.

Usage examples:

A pink-tinged cloud spread thwart the shore

adjective

Causing one to need rest or sleep; fatiguing.

Usage examples:

It had been a tiring day

verb

Feel or cause to feel in need of rest or sleep.

Usage examples:

Soon the ascent grew steeper and he began to tire

adjective

Causing you to feel you have no energy

Usage examples:

Dad had a tiring day at work.

adjective

(of a substance or object) strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough handling.

Usage examples:

Tough rucksacks for climbers

noun

A rough and violent man.

Usage examples:

A gang of toughs

verb

Endure a period of hardship or difficulty.

idiom

Use up (resources or materials)

phrasal verb

Use all of a stock or supply of something.

Usage examples:

The money was soon used up

phrasal verb

To use all of something, so that nothing is left

Usage examples:

Have we used up all of the paper towels?

verb

Use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.

Usage examples:

We can't afford to waste electricity

adjective

(of a material, substance, or by-product) eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required after the completion of a process.

Usage examples:

Ensure that waste materials are disposed of responsibly

noun

An act or instance of using or expending something carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.

Usage examples:

It's a waste of time trying to argue with him

adjective

Mentally or physically tiring.

Usage examples:

It would be a lot less wearing if we could work together amicably

verb

Have (something) on one's body as clothing, decoration, or protection.

Usage examples:

He was wearing a dark suit

verb

Bring (a ship) about by turning its head away from the wind.

Usage examples:

Shannon gives the order to wear ship

idiom

Spend or pass, as with boredom or in a pleasant manner

phrasal verb

To spend time in a relaxed way, sometimes when waiting for something else to happen

Usage examples:

I used to knit a lot when i was pregnant just to while away the time.

verb

Clean or dry (something) by rubbing with a cloth, a piece of paper, or one's hand.

Usage examples:

Paul wiped his face with a handkerchief

noun

Erase data from (a computer system or electronic or magnetic storage device).

Usage examples:

I discovered all of my hard drives had been wiped

verb

To slide something over the surface of something else, in order to remove dirt, food, or liquid

Usage examples:

Please wipe your feet before you come into the house., she gently wiped and cleaned her scraped kne…

noun

The destruction of a ship at sea; a shipwreck.

Usage examples:

The survivors of the wreck

verb

Destroy or severely damage (a structure, vehicle, or similar).

Usage examples:

The blast wrecked 100 houses

verb

Something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation