Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):
   • To settle the financial affairs of a business by determining debts and using assets to pay them off: This involves closing a company, selling its assets, and paying creditors.
   • To convert assets into cash: To sell possessions, investments, or holdings to obtain money.
   • To pay off a debt: To eliminate a financial obligation by paying the full amount owed.
   • To eliminate or kill someone, especially as a perceived threat: To dispose of a person, often used in contexts of organized crime or espionage.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The court ordered to liquidate the bankrupt firm to pay its creditors.
  • She had to liquidate her stock portfolio to cover the emergency expenses.
  • He took out a loan to liquidate his existing debts.
  • The gang moved to liquidate any potential witnesses.

Advanced Usage

• "To liquidate a position" (Finance): To close out an investment or trading position by selling the asset.

  • The hedge fund decided to liquidate its position in the volatile market.

• "To be liquidated": Describes the state of a company being wound up or assets being sold.

  • The company's assets were liquidated, and the proceeds were distributed.

Variants and Related Words

• Liquidation (n): The process of liquidating a company or assets.

  • The company went into liquidation.

• Liquidator (n): A person appointed to manage the liquidation process.

  • The liquidator oversaw the sale of all company property.

Synonyms

• Settle: To resolve or pay off (a debt or claim).
• Cash in: To convert something into cash.
• Annihilate/Eliminate: To completely destroy or remove (for the "kill" meaning).

Phrasal Verbs/Related Constructions

• Liquidate to pay (something): To sell assets specifically to settle a payment.
  • They liquidated the estate to pay the inheritance tax.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "To liquidate one's holdings": A common phrase meaning to sell all of one's investments or property.
  • Fearing a market crash, he chose to liquidate his holdings.

Verb

1. settle the affairs of by determining the debts and applying the assets to pay them off
   • liquidate a company
2. convert into cash
   • I had to liquidate my holdings to pay off my ex-husband
3. eliminate by paying off (debts)
4. get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing
   • The mafia liquidated the informer
   • the double agent was neutralized