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terminate

Syllabification: (ter·mi·nate)
Pronunciation: /ˈtərməˌnāt/

Translate terminate | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of terminate

verb

[with object]
  • bring to an end:he was advised to terminate the contract
  • [no object] (terminate in) (of a thing) have its end at (a specified place) or of (a specified form):the chain terminated in an iron ball covered with spikes
  • [no object] (of a train, bus, or boat service) end its journey:the train will terminate at Stratford
  • end (a pregnancy) before term by artificial means.
  • end the employment of (someone); dismiss:Adamson’s putting pressure on me to terminate you
  • assassinate (someone, especially an intelligence agent):he was terminated by persons unknown
  • archaic form the physical end or extremity of (an area).

Phrases

terminate someone with extreme prejudice

murder or assassinate someone (used as a euphemism).

Origin:

late 16th century (in the sense 'direct an action toward a specified end'): from Latin terminat- 'limited, ended', from the verb terminare, from terminus 'end, boundary'

terminate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of terminate in the British & World English dictionary

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