n.
Pronunciation: ' kil
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from Old English *cyllan; akin to Old English cwellan to kill ― more at QUELL
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to deprive of life : cause the death of b (1) : to slaughter (as a hog) for food (2) : to convert a food animal into (a kind of meat) by slaughtering
2 a : to put an end to < kill competition> b : DEFEAT , VETO < kill ed the amendment> c : to mark for omission also : DELETE d : ANNIHILATE , DESTROY < kill an enemy>
3 a : to destroy the vital or essential quality of < kill ed the pain with drugs> b : to cause to stop < kill the motor> c : to check the flow of current through
4 : to make a markedly favorable impression on <she kill ed the audience>
5 : to get through uneventfully < kill time> also : to get through (the time of a penalty) without being scored on < kill a penalty>
6 a : to cause extreme pain to b : to tire almost to the point of collapse
7 : to hit (a shot) so hard in various games that a return is impossible
8 : to consume (as a drink) totally
intransitive verb
1 : to deprive one of life
2 : to make a markedly favorable impression <was dressed to kill >
synonyms KILL , SLAY , MURDER , ASSASSINATE , DISPATCH , EXECUTE mean to deprive of life. KILL merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner < killed in an accident> <frost killed the plants>. SLAY is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive < slew thousands of the Philistines>. MURDER specif. implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility <convicted of murdering a rival>. ASSASSINATE applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives <terrorists assassinated the Senator>. DISPATCH stresses quickness and directness in putting to death < dispatched the sentry with one bullet>. EXECUTE stresses putting to death as a legal penalty < executed by lethal gas>.