slaughter

Slaughter is defined as to kill animals or people in large numbers or in a brutal way.

(verb)

An example of to slaughter is pigs being killed to be sold as pork.

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See slaughter in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. the killing of an animal or animals for food; butchering
  2. the killing of a human being, esp. in a brutal manner
  3. the killing of people in large numbers, as in battle
  4. Informal a complete defeat or victory

Origin: ME slahter < ON slātr, lit., slain flesh, contr. < slattr, akin to OE sleaht, slaughter, death: for IE base see slay

transitive verb

  1. to kill (an animal or animals) for food; butcher
  2. to kill (people), esp. brutally or in large numbers
  3. Informal to conquer or defeat completely

Related Forms:

See slaughter in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The killing of animals especially for food.
  2. The killing of a large number of people; a massacre: “I could not give my name to aid the slaughter in this war, fought on both sides for grossly material ends” (Sylvia Pankhurst).
transitive verb slaugh·tered, slaugh·ter·ing, slaugh·ters
  1. To kill (animals) especially for food; butcher.
  2. a. To kill (people) in large numbers; massacre.
    b. To kill in a violent or brutal manner.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , of Scandinavian origin

Origin: ; akin to Old Norse slātr, butchery

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Related Forms:

  • slaughˈter·er noun
  • slaughˈter·ous adjective

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