Meaning of kill in English

1. Pronunciation

   /kɪl/

   US accent

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   UK accent

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1. Verb

   kill

   Etymology

   Middle English (in the sense ‘strike, beat’, also ‘put to death’): probably of Germanic origin and related to quell. The noun originally denoted a stroke or blow

   Definitions

   1. cause to die

   Examples

   • « put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly »
   • « This man killed several people when he tried to rob a bank »
   • « The farmer killed a pig for the holidays »
2. 2. thwart the passage of

   Examples

   • « kill a motion »
   • « he shot down the student's proposal »
3. 3. cause the death of, without intention

   Examples

   • « She was killed in the collision of three cars »
4. 4. end or extinguish by forceful means

   Examples

   • « Stamp out poverty! »
5. 5. be fatal

   Examples

   • « cigarettes kill »
   • « drunken driving kills »
6. 6. be the source of great pain for

   Examples

   • « These new shoes are killing me! »
7. 7. overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration

   Examples

   • « The comedian was so funny, he was killing me! »
8. 8. hit with so much force as to make a return impossible, in racket games

   Examples

   • « She killed the ball »
9. 9. hit with great force

   Examples

   • « He killed the ball »
10. 10. deprive of life

    Examples

    • « AIDS has killed thousands in Africa »
11. 11. drink down entirely

    Examples

    • « He downed three martinis before dinner »
    • « She killed a bottle of brandy that night »
    • « They popped a few beer after work »
12. 12. mark for deletion, rub off, or erase

    Examples

    • « kill these lines in the President's speech »
13. 13. tire out completely

    Examples

    • « The daily stress of her work is killing her »
14. 14. cause to cease operating

    Examples

    • « kill the engine »
15. 15. destroy a vitally essential quality of or in

    Examples

    • « Eating artichokes kills the taste of all other foods »

16. Noun

    kill

    Etymology

    mid 17th century: from Dutch kil, from Middle Dutch kille‘riverbed, channel’

    Definitions

    1. the act of terminating a life
17. 2. the destruction of an enemy plane or ship or tank or missile

    Examples

    • « the pilot reported two kills during the mission »