n. & v.
--n.
1. the unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by another (cf. MANSLAUGHTER).
2 colloq. an unpleasant, troublesome, or dangerous state of affairs (it was murder here on Saturday).
--v.tr.
1. kill (a human being) unlawfully, esp. wickedly or inhumanly.
2 Law kill (a human being) with a premeditated motive.
3 colloq. utterly defeat or spoil by a bad performance, mispronunciation etc. (murdered the soliloquy in the second act).
Phrases and idioms:
cry blue murder sl. make an extravagant outcry. get away with murder colloq. do whatever one wishes and escape punishment. murder will out murder cannot remain undetected.
Derivatives:
murderer n. murderess n.
Etymology: OE morthor & OF murdre f. Gmc