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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | Probably from an unrecorded Old English cyllan |
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kill1 S1 W1
1 to make a person or animal die : Why did she kill her husband? Murray held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him. Four people were killed when a train plunged into a flooded river. Bleach kills household germs. Smoking kills.
make somebody/something die
[intransitive and transitive]Why did she kill her husband? Murray held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him.Four people were killed when a train plunged into a flooded river. Bleach kills household germs.Smoking kills.2
kill yourself
a) to cause your own death : You're going to kill yourself on that bike. After her husband died, Mary tried to kill herself.
You're going to kill yourself on that bike.After her husband died, Mary tried to kill herself.b) to work very hard to achieve something in a way that makes you ill or tired : It's not worth killing yourself over it.
It's not worth killing yourself over it.3 to make something stop operating or fail : Joe pulled in and killed the engine. The out-of-town shopping centre will kill local trade.
make something stop/fail
[transitive]Joe pulled in and killed the engine.The out-of-town shopping centre will kill local trade. kill your speed (=drive slowly)
4 to be very angry with someone : Mom will kill me if I'm late.
be angry with somebody
[transitive] informalMom will kill me if I'm late.5 to make someone feel annoyed, sad, concerned etc
annoyed/sad
[transitive]6 to want something so much that you will do almost anything to get it or do it : I could kill for a smoke right now. In those days, actors would kill to break into film.
would/could kill for something
also would kill to do somethingI could kill for a smoke right now.In those days, actors would kill to break into film.7 used to say that a part of your body is hurting a lot : I've walked miles and my feet are killing me.
my head/back etc is killing me
spokenI've walked miles and my feet are killing me.8 to spend time doing something which is not important while you are waiting to do something important or waiting for something else to happen : With time to kill, he took a cab to the centre.
kill time/an hour etc
With time to kill, he took a cab to the centre.9 to drink or finish drinking a beer etc quickly : Let's kill these beers and go.
kill a beer/bottle of wine etc
spokenLet's kill these beers and go.10 to make someone laugh a lot
make somebody laugh
[transitive]11 used to say that someone could easily do something, and ought to do it : It wouldn't kill you to help out once in a while.
it won't/wouldn't kill somebody (to do something)
spokenIt wouldn't kill you to help out once in a while.12 used to emphasize that you are determined to do something even though it is very difficult : I'm completing this course, even if it kills me.
(even) if it kills me
spokenI'm completing this course, even if it kills me.15 to welcome someone home with a big meal etc after they have been away for a long time
kill the fatted calf
17 used to say that something you are going to do will be either successful or fail completely
kill or cure
➔ dressed to kill
at dressed (3)kill something ↔ off
phrasal verb1 to cause the death of a lot of living things [= destroy]: Pollution is rapidly killing off plant life.
Pollution is rapidly killing off plant life.2 to stop or remove something completely [= destroy]: These figures kill off any hope that the economy is poised for recovery.
These figures kill off any hope that the economy is poised for recovery.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
kill, murder, execute, put to death, kill yourself, commit suicide, slaughter, massacre, assassinate There are many different words meaning to kill someone. Kill is the most general • He says he did not mean to kill his wife. • Thousands of soldiers were killed in the war. Use murder to talk about deliberately killing someone, especially after planning to do it • He is charged with murdering a policeman. When you are talking about killing someone as a punishment for a crime, use execute or put someone to death • He was executed by a firing squad. • the first person to be put to death in San Quentin jail If someone deliberately causes their own death, say that they commit suicide or that someone kills himself or herself • the feeling of hopelessness that led him to commit suicide, • It was not the first time she had tried to kill herself. Slaughter and massacre mean to violently kill a large number of people who cannot defend themselves. These words are used mainly in writing or journalism • Hundreds of innocent civilians were slaughtered. • Soldiers massacred 900 men, women, and children in the village. Use assassinate to talk about killing an important person, especially a politician • J.F.Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.
WORD CHOICE: kill, murder, execute, put to death, kill yourself, commit suicide, slaughter, massacre, assassinate There are many different words meaning to kill someone. Kill is the most general • He says he did not mean to kill his wife. • Thousands of soldiers were killed in the war. Use murder to talk about deliberately killing someone, especially after planning to do it • He is charged with murdering a policeman. When you are talking about killing someone as a punishment for a crime, use execute or put someone to death • He was executed by a firing squad. • the first person to be put to death in San Quentin jail If someone deliberately causes their own death, say that they commit suicide or that someone kills himself or herself • the feeling of hopelessness that led him to commit suicide, • It was not the first time she had tried to kill herself. Slaughter and massacre mean to violently kill a large number of people who cannot defend themselves. These words are used mainly in writing or journalism • Hundreds of innocent civilians were slaughtered. • Soldiers massacred 900 men, women, and children in the village. Use assassinate to talk about killing an important person, especially a politician • J.F.Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.
