■ verb
1》 cause the death of.
↘put an end to.
↘stop (a computing process).
2》 informal overwhelm with an emotion: the suspense is ~ing me.
↘cause pain or anguish to.
↘( ~ oneself ) overexert oneself.
3》 pass (time) while waiting for something.
4》 (in soccer and other ball games) make (the ball) stop.
↘ Tennis hit (the ball) so that it cannot be returned.
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ing, especially of one animal by another: a lion has made a ~.
↘an animal or animals ~ed by a hunter or another animal.
2》 informal an act of destroying or disabling an enemy aircraft, submarine, etc.
Phrases
be in at the ~ be present at or benefit from the successful conclusion of an enterprise.
go (or move ) in for the ~ take ruthless or decisive action to secure an advantage.
~ someone with kindness spoil someone with overindulgence.
Origin
ME (in the sense 'strike, beat', also 'put to death'): prob. of Gmc origin and related to quell .