ex ‧ ter ‧ mi ‧ nate /ɪkˈstɜːməneɪt, ɪkˈstɜːmɪneɪt $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of exterminare 'to drive out' , from terminus 'edge' ]
to kill large numbers of people or animals of a particular type so that they no longer exist:
Staff use the poison to exterminate moles and rabbits.
—exterminator noun [countable]
—extermination /ɪkˌstɜːməˈneɪʃ ə n, ɪkˌstɜːmɪˈneɪʃ ə n $ -ɜːr-/ noun [uncountable and countable] :
the extermination of the indigenous peoples
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THESAURUS
■ to kill a large number of people
▪ massacre to kill a large number of people in a violent way:
Thousands of peaceful demonstrators were massacred by the soldiers.
▪ slaughter to kill a large number of people in a violent way. Slaughter is also used about killing animals for food:
The army slaughtered thousands of civilians in an effort to stop the revolt.
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The pigs were slaughtered on the farm.
▪ exterminate to kill large numbers of a particular group, so that they no longer exist:
Hitler’s goal was to exterminate the Jews.