kill1

Pronunciation: /kɪl/

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Definition of kill

verb

[with object]

1cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing):her father was killed in a car crash [no object]:a robber armed with a shotgun who kills in cold blood
(kill someone/thing off) get rid of or destroy completely, especially in large numbers:there is every possibility all river life would be killed off for generations
(kill someone off) (of a writer) bring about the ‘death’ of a fictional character.
[no object] (kill out) (of an animal) yield (a specified amount of meat) when slaughtered: the lambs kill out at 20 kg deadweight

2put an end to or cause the failure or defeat of (something):two fast goals from Dublin killed any hopes of a famous Sligo victory
stop (a computer programme or process).
informal switch off (a light or engine).
informal delete (a line, paragraph, or file) from a document or computer.
(in soccer or other ball games) make (the ball) stop:after killing the ball with his chest, he brushed past Reeves
Tennis hit (the ball) so that it cannot be returned.
neutralize or subdue (an effect or quality):the sauce would kill the taste of the herbs
informal consume the entire contents of (a bottle containing an alcoholic drink): I killed a rather good bottle of Fleurie

3 informal overwhelm (someone) with an emotion:the suspense is killing me
(kill oneself) overexert oneself:I killed myself carrying those things home
used hyperbolically to indicate that someone will be extremely angry with (another person):my boss will kill me for saying this
cause pain or anguish to:my feet are killing me

4pass (time, or a specified amount of it), typically while waiting for a particular event:when he reached the station he found he actually had an hour to kill

noun

[usually in singular]

an act of killing, especially of one animal by another:a lion has made a kill
an animal or animals killed:the vulture is able to survey the land and locate a fresh kill
informal an act of destroying or disabling an enemy aircraft, submarine, etc.: the engagement resulted in fifty-one tank kills

Phrases

be in at the kill: be present at or benefit from the successful conclusion of an enterprise.
go (or move in or close in) for the kill: take ruthless or decisive action to turn a situation to one’s advantage.
if it kills one: informal whatever the problems or difficulties involved:we are going to smile and be pleasant if it kills us
kill oneself laughing: informal, chiefly British be overcome with laughter.
kill or cure: British (of a remedy for a problem) likely to either work well or fail catastrophically, with no possibility of partial success:the spring Budget will be kill or cure
kill two birds with one stone: proverb achieve two aims at once.
kill someone with (or by) kindness: spoil someone by overindulging them.

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'strike, beat', also 'put to death'): probably of Germanic origin and related to quell. The noun originally denoted a stroke or blow

kill in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of kill in the US English dictionary

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kill1

verb

noun

Phrases

be in at the kill

go (or move in or close in) for the kill

if it kills one

kill oneself laughing

kill or cure

kill two birds with one stone

kill someone with (or by) kindness

Origin:

kill in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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