v.tr. 1 cause (a flame, light, etc.) to die out; put out. 2 make extinct; annihilate, destroy (a programme to extinguish disease). 3 put an end to; terminate; obscure utterly (a feeling, quality, etc.). 4 a abolish; wipe out (a debt). b Law render void. 5 colloq. reduce to silence (the argument extinguished the opposition). extinguishable adj. extinguishment n.
[ irreg. f. L extinguere (as EXTINCT): cf. distinguish ]