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exterminate
Exterminate is defined as to destroy completely, or kill.
(verb)Having a pest-control service kill the ants in your home is an example of exterminate.
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See exterminate in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb exterminated, exterminating
to destroy or get rid of entirely, as by killing; wipe out; annihilate
Origin: < L exterminatus, pp. of exterminare, lit., to drive beyond the boundaries, hence drive out, destroy < ex-, out + terminus, boundary: see term
Related Forms:
- extermination noun
See exterminate in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb ex·ter·mi·nat·ed, ex·ter·mi·nat·ing, ex·ter·mi·nates
To get rid of by destroying completely; extirpate. See Synonyms at abolish.
Origin:
Origin: Latin extermināre, extermināt-, to drive out
Origin: : ex-, ex-
Origin: + termināre, to mark boundaries (from terminus, boundary marker)
.Related Forms:
- ex·terˌmi·naˈtion noun
- ex·terˈmi·naˌtive, ex·terˈmi·na·toˌry (-nə-tôrˌē, -tōrˌē) adjective
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