/ ˈmɜːdə(r); NAmE ˈmɜːrd-/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U , C ] the crime of killing sb deliberately
SYN homicide :
He was found guilty of murder.
She has been charged with the attempted murder of her husband.
to commit (a) murder
a murder case / investigation / trial
The rebels were responsible for the mass murder of 400 civilians.
What was the murder weapon ?
The play is a murder mystery .
—compare manslaughter
2.
[ U ] ( informal ) used to describe sth that is difficult or unpleasant :
It's murder trying to get to the airport at this time of day.
It was murder (= very busy and unpleasant) in the office today.
•
IDIOMS
- get away with murder
—more at scream verb
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to kill sb deliberately and illegally :
He denies murdering his wife's lover.
The murdered woman was well known in the area.
2.
to spoil sth because you do not do it very well
SYN butcher :
Critics accused him of murdering the English language (= writing or speaking it very badly) .
3.
( BrE , informal ) to defeat sb completely, especially in a team sport
SYN thrash
•
IDIOMS
- I could murder a ...
- sb will murder you
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English morthor , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch moord and German Mord , from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit mará death and Latin mors ; reinforced in Middle English by Old French murdre .