Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of causing death, especially of a living being: The word "kill" can refer to the act of ending a life.
   • An animal or enemy unit destroyed, especially in hunting or combat: In specific contexts, "kill" refers to the thing that has been killed, such as prey or a target.

2. Verb:

   • To cause the death of a living organism: The primary meaning is to end life, intentionally or otherwise.
   • To destroy, end, or extinguish something: "Kill" can be used figuratively to mean putting a complete stop to a process, feeling, or activity.
   • To overwhelm someone with a strong emotion: Informally, it can mean to cause great amusement, pain, or admiration.
   • To consume something completely: To finish a drink or food entirely.
   • To mark for deletion or erase: To remove text or data.
   • In sports, to hit a ball with great force, making a return impossible: To execute a decisive, winning shot.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The lion made a kill and dragged its prey away.
  • The fighter pilot had five confirmed kills.

• Verb (Literal):

  • The disease can kill if left untreated.
  • He was charged for attempting to kill.

• Verb (Figurative):

  • The bad news killed our hopes.
  • Please kill the engine before refueling.
  • That comedian's jokes always kill me.
  • She killed the entire bottle of water in one go.

Advanced Usage

• "to kill time": to do something to make time seem to pass more quickly while waiting.

  • I read a magazine to kill time at the airport.

• "to kill a story/bill": to decide not to publish a news story or to reject a proposed law.

  • The editor killed the story due to lack of evidence.

• "to kill oneself (doing something)": to work extremely hard or make a great effort.

  • He's killing himself trying to meet the deadline.

• "to be dressed to kill": to be dressed in very stylish or attractive clothes intended to impress.

  • She arrived at the party dressed to kill.

Variants and Related Words

• Killer (n): a person or thing that kills; (informal) something extremely difficult or impressive.

  • The police are searching for the killer.
  • That exam was a real killer.

• Killing (adj/n): causing death; (informal) extremely funny or exhausting. As a noun, it can mean an act of causing death or (informal) a great financial success.

  • He suffered a killing blow.
  • We made a killing in the stock market.

Synonyms

• Slay: to kill violently or in great numbers (more literary/formal).
• Murder: to kill a person unlawfully and with premeditation.
• Execute: to kill someone as a legal punishment.
• Destroy: to end the existence of something by damaging or attacking it.
• Extinguish: to cause a fire or light to stop burning or shining; to end a hope or feeling.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Kill off: to cause the death of a group of living things, or to end something gradually.

  • The harsh winter killed off many of the insects.
  • The writers killed off the main character in the final episode.

• Kill with kindness: to harm or inconvenience someone by being excessively kind or generous.

  • She's killing me with kindness by bringing me food every day.

Related Idioms

• Kill two birds with one stone: to achieve two goals with a single action.

  • By cycling to work, I kill two birds with one stone: I save money and get exercise.

• Curiosity killed the cat: a warning that being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.

  • I wouldn't ask too many questions if I were you—curiosity killed the cat.

• Move in for the kill: to take decisive action to finish something, especially after preparing carefully.

  • After weakening his opponent's argument, the lawyer moved in for the kill.

Noun

1. the destruction of an enemy plane or ship or tank or missile
   • the pilot reported two kills during the mission
2. the act of terminating a life

Verb

1. destroy a vitally essential quality of or in
   • Eating artichokes kills the taste of all other foods
2. cause to cease operating
   • kill the engine
3. tire out completely
   • The daily stress of her work is killing her
4. mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
   • kill these lines in the President's speech
5. drink down entirely
   • He downed three martinis before dinner
   • She killed a bottle of brandy that night
   • They popped a few beer after work
6. cause the death of, without intention
   • She was killed in the collision of three cars
7. deprive of life
   • AIDS has killed thousands in Africa
8. hit with great force
   • He killed the ball
9. hit with so much force as to make a return impossible, in racket games
   • She killed the ball
10. overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration
    • The comedian was so funny, he was killing me!
11. be the source of great pain for
    • These new shoes are killing me!
12. be fatal
    • cigarettes kill
    • drunken driving kills
13. end or extinguish by forceful means
    • Stamp out poverty!
14. thwart the passage of
    • kill a motion
    • he shot down the student's proposal
15. cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
    • This man killed several people when he tried to rob a bank
    • The farmer killed a pig for the holidays