murder
Noun:
- The unlawful, intentional killing of one human being by another: "Murder" refers specifically to the crime of killing a person with malice aforethought or premeditation.
- Something very difficult or unpleasant: Informally, "murder" can describe a very difficult or trying situation.
Verb:
- To kill (a human being) unlawfully and with premeditation or malice: The primary meaning is to commit the crime of murder.
- To spoil or ruin something through incompetence: To perform something very badly, especially a piece of music, a language, or a task.
- To defeat decisively; to trounce: Used informally in sports or competition.
Noun:
- The detective investigated the brutal murder.
- That final exam was murder! (informal)
Verb (to kill unlawfully):
- The jury found him guilty of murdering his business partner.
- He was murdered for his political beliefs.
Verb (to spoil or perform badly):
- The actor completely murdered the famous soliloquy.
- I love that song, but the amateur band murdered it.
"Murder will out": A proverb meaning a secret crime, especially murder, will eventually be discovered.
- He thought he had hidden the evidence perfectly, but murder will out.
"Murder one": (Legal term, chiefly US) First-degree murder, involving premeditation.
- The charge was upgraded from manslaughter to murder one.
"Scream/shout blue murder": To protest or complain very loudly and angrily.
- The customers shouted blue murder when the store raised its prices.
Murderer (n): A person who commits murder.
- The murderer was sentenced to life in prison.
Murderous (adj):
- Capable of, intending, or involving murder.
- a murderous attack
- Extremely difficult or dangerous.
- murderous heat
Murderously (adv): In a murderous manner.
- He glared murderously at his rival.
- Homicide (n): The killing of one person by another (a broader legal term that includes murder and manslaughter).
- Assassinate (v): To murder (a prominent person) by sudden or secret attack.
- Slay (v): To kill violently (literary or journalistic).
- Butcher (v): To kill brutally or indiscriminately (implies cruelty).
To get away with murder: To do something very bad without being punished or criticized for it (idiomatic).
- His parents are so lenient; he gets away with murder.
To murder in cold blood: To kill someone in a deliberate, unemotional, and cruel way.
- The victims were murdered in cold blood.
Murder on (something): Extremely painful or damaging to.
- Running a marathon is murder on the knees.
I could murder a (something): (Informal, British) Used to express a very strong desire for something, especially food or drink.
- It's been a long day; I could murder a cup of tea.
- unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
- alter so as to make unrecognizable
- The tourists murdered the French language
- kill intentionally and with premeditation
- The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered