kill1 verbkill2 noun
killkill1 /kɪl/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 
WORD ORIGINkill1
Origin:
1200-1300 Probably from an unrecorded Old English cyllanVERB TABLE
kill
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | kill |
| he, she, it | kills | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | killed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have killed |
| he, she, it | has killed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had killed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will kill |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have killed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am killing |
| he, she, it | is killing | |
| you, we, they | are killing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was killing |
| you, we, they | were killing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been killing |
| he, she, it | has been killing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been killing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be killing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been killing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A car drove onto the pavement, killing three of Mrs Maguire's children.
- Alan wore a dress to the party? That kills me!
- Carrie will kill me if I forget her birthday.
- Could you give me something to kill the pain?
- He claims that he didn't mean to kill his wife.
- I was early, so I sat in a café, killing time.
- Is it morally acceptable to kill animals for food?
- James Dean was killed in a car crash in 1955.
- Losing funding now would kill the project.
- Many people do not realize that these drugs are dangerous and can kill.
- Mr Howard released a statement in an effort to kill speculation in the press.
- My sixteen-year-old son Louis was killed by a drunk driver two years ago.
- Noland is accused of killing her stepfather.
- Official sources say that 20 people were killed in last night's air raids.
- Quick! Kill the lights.
- Smoking kills.
- The disease has already killed more than 2000 in Latin America.
- The explosion killed 32 people.
- The gunman killed 22 people and wounded 15, before turning his gun on himself.
- The police believe the man may kill again.
- During his address, some shots were fired, two men were killed, and several wounded.
- He told Creon that Thebes would be save only if Menoeceus was killed.
- He was capable of killing a man with his bare hands.
- I thought he had been in a car accident that had killed everyone else.
- On May 3, 1885, police fired into a crowd of strikers in Chicago, wounding many and killing four.
- Some one possessing special strength or skill attacks and kills the monster or drives him away.
- The second Returner had killed two men, and had also been destroyed in the process before full analysis could commence.
- They've tried to kill me.
THESAURUS
to make someone die: · The driver and his passenger were killed in the crash.· He was killed by rival gang members.
to deliberately kill someone – used when talking about this as a crime: · He was convicted of murdering his wife.
to kill someone without intending to – used when talking about this as a crime: · The court ruled that the guard had committed manslaughter.
to deliberately kill an important person, especially a politician: · He was part of a plot to assassinate Hitler.
to kill someone or something in a violent way – used in newspaper reports and also in old stories: · Two teenagers were slain in the shootings.· St. George slew the dragon.· The king was slain at the battle of Hastings.
formal (also put somebody to death) to kill someone as a punishment for a crime: · McVeigh, who killed 168 people in a bombing attack, was executed by lethal injection.
to kill someone in order to prevent them from causing trouble: · a ruthless dictator who eliminated all his rivals
informal to kill someone in order to get rid of them, especially an enemy or someone who is causing trouble for you: · US forces used air strikes to take out the enemy positions.· One of the other drug dealers may have decided to take him out.
humorous informal to kill someone: · He was so irritating I felt like bumping him off myself.
informal to kill someone: · The settlers in Jamestown had been done away with, but no one knew how.
to kill yourself to kill yourself: · He committed suicide after the death of his girlfriend.
formal to kill yourself: · He had taken his own life while he was severely depressed.· They believe that it is a sin to take your own life.
to kill a large number of people to kill a large number of people in a violent way: · Thousands of peaceful demonstrators were massacred by the soldiers.
to kill a large number of people in a violent way. Slaughter is also used about killing animals for food: · The army slaughtered thousands of civilians in an effort to stop the revolt.· The pigs were slaughtered on the farm.
to kill large numbers of a particular group, so that they no longer exist: · Hitler’s goal was to exterminate the Jews.
Longman Language Activatorto kill someone to make someone die, especially deliberately or violently: · He claims that he didn't mean to kill his wife.· The police believe the man may kill again.· What the hell were you doing! You could have killed me!· Official sources say that 20 people were killed in last night's air raids.· My sixteen-year-old son Louis was killed by a drunk driver two years ago.
to deliberately kill someone, especially after planning to do it: · Wilson is accused of murdering his daughter and her boyfriend.· One of the country's top judges has been murdered by the Mafia.
to murder an important or famous person, especially for political reasons: · President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.· an attempt to assassinate the Pope
to kill someone by beating them, kicking them, or attacking them with a knife: · The court heard how the man was beaten to death by racist thugs.· A social worker was found stabbed to death in her office last night.· Smith had apparently been kicked to death.
to kill someone by putting a very harmful substance in their food or drink: · He believed that somebody was trying to poison him.· She had already poisoned three members of her own family with arsenic.
to kill someone by holding their face under water for a long time: · He accused his brother of trying to drown him.
to kill someone by pressing on their throat with both hands or with something such as a piece of string so that they cannot breathe: · Police said that the victim had been strangled.· He slid his hands around her neck and tried to strangle her.
informal to kill someone - often used humorously: bump off somebody/bump somebody off: · He kept marrying rich women and then bumping them off.have somebody bumped off (=arrange for someone to be killed): · His uncle decided to have him bumped off.
informal to kill someone, especially because they are a threat or their death would be convenient: · Perhaps his wife had taken the opportunity to do away with her rival.
the act or crime of killing someone the act or crime of deliberately killing someone: · New York paid tribute to the thousands of innocent people murdered on September 11th.· a series of brutal murders· The incidence of violent crimes -- murder, rape, and assault -- has increased in inner city areas.murder of: · Ronny Jones was found guilty of the murder of a 15 year old girl.commit murder (=to murder someone): · The gun was found five miles from where the murder was committed.attempted murder (=the crime of unsuccessfully trying to kill someone): · He was charged with attempted murder and found guilty.murder victim: · The murder victim has not yet been identified.
the crime of killing someone, especially deliberately - used especially in American legal contexts: · 70 per cent of homicides take place within the family.· As yet no evidence has been found to suggest that this death was homicide.homicide case/charge/detective: · A newspaper article criticized his handling of a homicide case
the crime of killing someone by accident, or while you are trying to defend yourself: · She denied murdering her husband, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.· The court decided there was insufficient evidence for a manslaughter charge.manslaughter of: · The driver of the train was charged with the manslaughter of 13 people.
when someone is deliberately killed - used especially in news reports: · A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the killing.killing of: · The defendant claimed that he was only avenging the killing of his brother.contract killing (=when someone has been paid to kill someone else): · Perry said Taylor approached him and asked him to carry out a contract killing on Johnson.
when someone deliberately kills a famous or important person, especially for political reasons: · Three foreign diplomats have been killed in a series of assassinations.assassination of: · The assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo led to the First World War.· Flowers were laid to commemorate the anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon.
formal if the police think that foul play is involved in a person's death, they think that the person has been murdered: · There was no question of foul play - a suicide note was found near the body.· The medical report showed no signs of poison in the body but the police still suspect foul play.
to kill a large number of people · Thousands of the rebels were killed in a gun battle with government troops.· The gunman killed 22 people and wounded 15, before turning his gun on himself.
to kill a large number of people easily, because they are not able to defend themselves well enough: · They have massacred hundreds of innocent people.· Claims by refugees that 1000 people had been massacred were denied by the local authorities.
to kill a large number of people in a very cruel or violent way: · Men ran through the village burning houses and slaughtering the inhabitants.· Men, women and children were slaughtered in groups by their captors.
to kill large numbers of a particular group or race of people so that it no longer exists: · There was an attempt to exterminate ethnic groups in the north of the country.
when a large number of people are killed when a large number of people are easily killed, because they are not able to defend themselves: · The soldiers who carried out the massacre have not been identified.massacre of: · The students claimed the two men had ordered the massacre of 200 people in Kwangju.
when a large number of people are killed in a very cruel or violent way: · The slaughter was terrible - the whole field was covered with bodies.· Many are determined to avenge the slaughter in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.slaughter of: · His war crimes included the deliberate slaughter of 250,000 individuals.
when a large number of people are violently killed, especially in a war - used especially in newspapers: · The war was over. The carnage had ceased.· The foreign minister has asked ambassadors from several states to help end the carnage.
when one or more people kill a large number of people violently at about the same time: · Details are still emerging of this, the biggest mass murder in Canadian history.mass murder of: · the mass murder of innocent people
when a whole group or race of people are killed in a planned and organized way: · What is going on is not just war, it is genocide.· In recent history, the existence of prejudice has led to violence and genocide.
to kill yourself · He killed himself by jumping under a train.· She tried to kill herself when news of the scandal leaked out.· You'll kill yourself if you go on drinking like that.
when someone deliberately kills himself or herself: · Police are treating the man's death as suicide.· There is grave concern about the number of teenage suicides recorded last year.commit suicide: · Barry threatened to commit suicide if she refused to marry him.suicide attempt: · Stephen required hospital treatment after his suicide attempt.
formal to kill yourself: · Many religions consider that it is a sin to take your own life.· Desperately frustrated and alone, she could see no way out except to take her own life.
someone who is suicidal is likely to kill themselves because they are extremely unhappy: · The thought of having to stay in the house all day made me feel almost suicidal.suicidal tendencies (=behaviour that shows you may try to kill yourself): · Had the prisoner previously displayed suicidal tendencies?
informal if you want to end it all , you want to kill yourself because you are extremely unhappy, lonely etc - used especially in stories: · Sometimes I feel so low I just feel like ending it all.
someone who kills another person someone who has deliberately killed another person: · Do you think the police will ever catch her murderer?· A convicted murderer was on the run last night after escaping from Lewes prison.mass murderer (=someone who has murdered a lot of people): · In prison he enjoyed reading biographies of other mass murderers.
someone who deliberately kills someone else - used especially in newspapers: · The victim's best friend, Joanne, is convinced the killer is local.· The judge described him as "a cold-blooded killer".killer of: · Police are searching for the killer of a 9 year old boy.serial killer (=someone who has killed a number of people, one after the other): · Dr Shipman is the biggest serial killer of all time.
someone who kills a famous or important person, sometimes because someone else has paid them to do it: · Although the assassins were never caught, it is commonly believed that they were working for the government.· His assassins must have been aware of his security arrangements.
someone who is paid to kill people illegally: · The hitman used the top floor room of a hotel opposite the square.· The police believe the murder could be the work of a contract killer.
also psycho informal someone who has a mental illness that makes them kill people: · Dr Green said that, in his opinion, Perry was a dangerous psychopath who might kill again.
when someone is killed as a punishment to kill someone as a punishment for a serious crime: · King Charles I was executed on 30th January 1649.· The two young men spent 6 months in jail waiting to be executed.execute somebody for something (=because of a particular crime): · This is a backward and cruel society, in which people are executed for homosexuality and adultery.
written to officially arrange for someone that you have power over to be killed - used especially in historical descriptions: · The chief priests wanted to arrest Jesus and put him to death.· No woman had been put to death in the state since the American Revolution.have somebody put to death: · The queen would have people put to death for her own amusement.
the system of killing criminals as a legal punishment: · I don't believe bringing back capital punishment would reduce crime.· Most people that we questioned were against capital punishment.
the legal punishment of being killed for a serious crime: · The death penalty does not exist in Britain.· Do you think they should bring back the death penalty?carry the death penalty (=to be a crime for which the punishment is death): · Murder is one of the few offences that carries the death penalty.
the punishment of death that a judge decides to give to someone who is guilty of a serious crime: receive/be given a death sentence: · He is the youngest person ever to be given a death sentence in San Diego County.
British /capital offense American, also capital crime an offence or crime that will be punished by death: · Drug-smuggling is a capital offence in many countries.
if a criminal is on death row , they are in prison before being killed as punishment for a crime, especially in the US: · Larson has been on death row since 1995 for murdering a taxi driver.
a condemned man, prisoner etc is in prison before he or she is killed as punishment for a crime: · The state allows no communication with a condemned man.· Here are the kitchens where the condemned prisoner's last meal was prepared.
when someone is killed to stop them from suffering when someone who is very old or very ill is killed in a painless way in order to stop them suffering any longer - use this to talk about this practice in general: · In the Netherlands euthanasia has already been legalized.· Most doctors are opposed to euthanasia on ethical grounds.
when someone who is very ill is killed in a painless way in order to stop them suffering any longer: · Some doctors carry out mercy killings by giving large quantities of pain-killing drugs.
to cause death to cause someone's death - use this especially about accidents, diseases, or substances: · A car drove onto the pavement, killing three of Mrs Maguire's children.· The explosion killed 32 people.· The disease has already killed more than 2000 in Latin America.· Many people do not realize that these drugs are dangerous and can kill.be killed in a crash/accident etc: · James Dean was killed in a car crash in 1955.
to make someone die: · Rhubarb leaves, either raw or cooked, can cause violent stomach pains or even death.· Research is being done into the virus that caused the death of 15,000 seals last summer.· The injuries sustained by the victim were not sufficient to have caused death in a healthy person.
to cause the death of a group of plants or animals: kill off something: · It was the cold winter of 1992 that finally killed off the last of the roses.· Pollution in the lakes and streams has been killing off many species of fish.kill something off: · If you plant your seedlings out too soon, a late frost might kill them off.
to kill things, especially plants and trees, so that they can never start to grow again: · A vast amount of the Amazonian rainforest is being destroyed every day.· Milk is heat treated for a few seconds to destroy bacteria.
if an illness is a killer , it kills a lot of people, especially because there is no cure: · In those days measles was a major killer.· Diphtheria is still a killer in many developing countries.
to kill a complete group or race of people, or all of a type of animal or plant, so that it no longer exists: wipe out somebody/something: · The entire village was wiped out.· Archaeologists think that massive floods could have wiped out the dinosaurs.wipe somebody/something out: · The fur trade has wiped leopards out in some areas.
to kill large numbers of the people, animals, or plants in a particular place: · Cambodia's 21-year war decimated the wildlife population.· His prize herd of cows has been decimated by an unknown disease.
able to kill you a fatal accident, illness, or injury is one that causes death: · He suffered a fatal injury to the neck.fatal to: · A sudden shock could be fatal to anyone with a weak heart.
something that is lethal can cause death - use this especially about weapons or substances: · The poison produced by the frog's skin is so lethal that it can paralyze a bird or a monkey immediately.· A lethal cocktail of pollutants is being poured into Scotland's coastal waters, according to Greenpeace.lethal weapon: · Almost any sharp or pointed object can potentially be a lethal weapon.lethal to: · Most pesticides are lethal to earthworms on or near the surface.
something such as a disease or poison that is deadly can cause death: · In the First World War pneumonia was as deadly as bullets and shells.· Some mushrooms are edible while others, which look almost identical, contain deadly poisons.
a killer disease or thing could kill or has killed a lot of people - used especially in newspapers: · A swarm of killer bees has attacked 70 children in a village in northern Mexico.· Killer floods and hurricanes in Asia have destroyed whole towns.
a mortal injury, wound, or disease is one that causes death - used especially in literature: · He killed Leonardo and received a mortal wound himself.· He gathered all his strength to deliver his opponent the final mortal blow.
to kill an animal · Is it morally acceptable to kill animals for food?· You shouldn't really kill spiders, even if you're frightened of them.· They were so hungry they killed the rest of their livestock that winter.
to kill farm animals, either for their meat or skins, or because they are ill: · The only way to stop the virus spreading is by slaughtering all infected animals.· As part of the ceremony a cow was slaughtered and placed on the stone altar.
to kill an animal in a painless way, especially using drugs, because it is dangerous or in pain: · The Animal Disease Authority decided to destroy the cattle that were infected with the disease.have something destroyed: · The court ordered the owner of the rottweilers to have the dogs destroyed.
British to kill an animal, especially a pet, in a painless way, because it is very old or very ill, or is not wanted: · When our old cat became very sick we had to ask the vet to put her down.· She rescued Sandy from the Animal Shelter the day before he was due to be put to sleep.have something put down/put to sleep: · A blind dog is no use to a shepherd. I'm afraid I'm going to have to have him put down.
to kill a large number of animals, for example in order to stop a disease spreading or to keep the numbers of a particular animal population down: · Over two million sheep have been culled to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease.
to look angrily to look angrily at someone: · He sat there in silence, glaring angrily.glare at: · "You can go if you want, but I'm staying," Denise said glaring at him.glare toward/across/around etc: · Claude put down his fork and glared across the table.
especially British to look at someone very angrily, as if you would like to hurt them: · When I asked him what he'd done with the money he just looked daggers at me and refused to speak.· Julie must have heard you talking about her, because she was looking daggers at you from the next table.
also give somebody a black/filthy look British to quickly look at someone angrily to show that you are angry with them, especially in a situation when you cannot tell them that you are angry: · I don't know what I did to upset her, but she gave me a really filthy look when I walked into the meeting.· My aunt's friends always used to give me dirty looks when I brought my kids over, because they knew I wasn't married.
to look at someone in an angry way, or make an angry, unhappy expression with your face: · Jane scowled and told them to get out.· "What do you want?" said the old man, scowling.scowl at: · What are you scowling at me for? You asked me to wake you up.
to look at someone or something with an annoyed, confused, or disapproving expression on your face: · The teacher frowned at him and asked him to sit down.· When I got back to the table, Carolyn was frowning at the check.· "Sibling rivalry?" she asked, frowning at his use of psychological terms.
use this when you are telling someone how another person looked at you in a very angry way, and you found this funny or frightening: · You should've seen her face when she realized what I'd done - if looks could kill!
to spend time to spend time somewhere, with someone, or doing something: spend time: · I never seem to have any time to spend with the children.spend an hour/two days/a week etc: · Dani spends hours on the phone.spend an hour/two days/a week etc doing something: · Fay spent a year in Italy teaching English.· He spent the whole morning reading the report.
to spend time doing something unimportant, because you have nothing else to do: · I started doing a crossword to pass the time .pass the time doing something: · The security guards used to pass their time playing cards.
: kill time/a couple of hours etc informal to do something in order to make time seem to pass more quickly while you are waiting for something: · I was early, so I sat in a café, killing time.· The train doesn't leave till two, so we have a couple of hours to kill.
to keep yourself busy doing things, especially because you cannot think of anything else to do or to stop yourself from getting bored: busy yourself doing something: · Martin sat down nervously and busied himself rearranging the papers on his desk.busy yourself with: · Mrs Smithers pottered about busying herself with light household tasks.
informal to often spend a lot of your time in a particular place or with a particular person or group: · You'll probably find Dave at the pool hall -- he often hangs out there.hang out with: · I used to hang out with them when I was at college.
to stop something quickly before it has time to develop to stop a bad situation or bad behaviour when it first starts, before it can develop further: · If I'd known about their plan I could have nipped it in the bud there and then.· It's important to nip this problem in the bud.
to quickly stop something such as opposition to your plans that is likely to cause you trouble: · Her lawyers acted quickly to squash any of her husband's claims on her property.squash a rumour: · The chairman acted quickly to squash rumours of a takeover bid.
to stop something quickly and completely: · Losing funding now would kill the project.· Mr Howard released a statement in an effort to kill speculation in the press.
to make someone feel tired: tire/wear somebody out · Their constant quarrelling is wearing us out.tire/wear out somebody · The thin air at high altitudes usually tires out people who are not used to the mountains.
to make someone feel very tired: · The effort of swimming against the current exhausted him.it exhausts somebody to do something: · It exhausted him to talk for too long, but he loved hearing all the theater gossip.
to make someone feel tired, especially someone who gets tired easily because they are old or ill: · I won't tire you with a long visit. I just wanted to stop in and see how you were doing.
informal to make you feel as if you have no energy left: · Dale's a construction worker. You know, that sort of work really takes it out of you.· It wasn't the cooking so much as all the cleaning up that did me in.
spoken use this to say that doing a very hard job or activity made you feel extremely tired: · It nearly killed me carrying that fridge up the stairs!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
What happened next? The suspense is killing me.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He had killed a man with his bare hands. terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing The passenger was killed outright. The plane was reported missing. The soldiers had orders to shoot to kill (=shoot at someone with the intention of killing them). Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me (=I feel very excited or anxious because I do not know what will happen next).
(=immediately) The driver was killed instantly.
The driver was killed instantly. (=drive slowly)
What happened next? The suspense is killing me. (=killed or wounded while fighting)· Four of her sons have been killed in action.
He had killed a man with his bare hands.· Eight people were killed in clashes between the army and police.
· Last year, an underground explosion killed 82 miners.
informal (=my feet are hurting)
terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing· I needed a pain-killing injection in my elbow.
The passenger was killed outright. The plane was reported missing.· Her death was followed by a series of revenge killings.
The soldiers had orders to shoot to kill (=shoot at someone with the intention of killing them). Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me (=I feel very excited or anxious because I do not know what will happen next). (=spend time doing something unimportant while waiting for something)· He was just killing time before his appointment.
(=have time to do something unimportant while waiting for something)· I still had some time to kill, so I thought I’d make a couple of phone calls.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Vermin, he called them, when she protested at killing a sitting bird.· Lleland was obviously out to kill two birds with one stone.· Adding five examples to the chapters that at present lack them would kill two birds with one stone.· Wind farms also take up huge tracts of land and can kill birds caught in turbine blades.· It plans to issue general licences entitling landowners to kill unwanted birds on their property.· In trying to play matchmaker and kill two birds with one stone, I nearly annihilated three.· Perhaps this boy knows something about them, he thought ... Something has been killing rabbits and birds in the woods lately.· Thorpey said it'd kill two birds with one stone.
VERB· He did nothing to them, but they want to kill him.· Without knowing the details, I wanted to kill Howie.· I don't want to kill their dreams.· You want us to get killed?· Zadak wanted to kill me, but I killed him.· He possessed no sense of reverence for the giant fish and wanted to kill them all without Understanding his primitive motivation.· Why should I have wanted to kill him?· A state is totally up against it when it wants to kill somebody.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► my head/back etc is killing me► kill time/an hour etc► kill a beer/bottle of wine etc► kill the fatted calfPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► run out the clock/kill the clock► a gangland killing/murder/shooting etc► if looks could kill
- It wouldn't kill you to do the dishes.
- I'm going to finish this even if it kills me.
- Deedee killed two birds with one stone, both shopping and looking for a shop of her own to rent.
- Adding five examples to the chapters that at present lack them would kill two birds with one stone.
- By promoting these new investors, Mr Alphandéry could kill two birds with one stone.
- In trying to play matchmaker and kill two birds with one stone, I nearly annihilated three.
- Lleland was obviously out to kill two birds with one stone.
- Thorpey said it'd kill two birds with one stone.
- Well, now we can kill two birds with one stone.
- High taxes kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
- Enormous helpings to kill you with kindness.
- He'd kill me with kindness.
- They killed him with kindness, and it didn't do Blackburn much good either.
- The spring Budget, therefore, will be kill or cure.
- He killed himself by jumping under a train.
- She tried to kill herself when news of the scandal leaked out.
- You'll kill yourself if you go on drinking like that.
- Could you kill yourself by putting your fingers into the electric socket?
- Do we go on killing each other until there is none left?
- He suffered such terrible symptoms he tried to kill himself.
- Hetty has no alternative but beggary, and rather than that it would be better to kill herself.
- It will be a book about how my sister killed herself, about how and why I survived.
- Jill has killed herself during the week of his final exams.
- The number of students who had killed themselves and their instructors was a constant source of anxiety.
- We lived together happily for many years and now it has come to killing each other's babies.
- But Katrinka is sustained by her search for her long-lost son, and a wardrobe a Vegas showgirl could kill for.
- I could kill for him, easily and without thought.
- Most retailers would kill for that kind of performance.
- Some of the lasses would kill for tab-ends and that.
- The townspeople had learned the hard way that curiosity killed the cat - you stayed indoors if there was trouble.
- In her black velvet cocktail dress, Elaine Russell was dressed to kill.
- Erica, who had been dressed to kill when he got to the flat, had agreed.
- He is dressed to kill with no place to go.
- A family of illegal aliens is peppered with shotgun pellets in a drive-by shooting.
- A second drive-by shooting March 19 was linked to another gang.
- All we get is this stereotyping of violence that I believe leads to drive-by shootings.
- As far as we know, nobody ever pulled a drive-by shooting from a golf cart.
- G., was killed March 9 in a Los Angeles drive-by shooting.
- One person died in a drive-by shooting and several were injured.
- The last attack was a drive-by shooting about 3 a. m. June 1.
- Your son was killed in a drive-by shooting.
- Indeed, as expectations can kill the magic stone dead, such occasions are often evoked by going somewhere completely new.
WORD FAMILYnounkilloverkillkillerkillingadjectivekillerverbkill
1make somebody/something die [intransitive, transitive] to make a person or animal die: Why did she kill her husband? Murray held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him. Four people were killed when a train plunged into a flooded river.be killed instantly/outright (=immediately) The driver was killed instantly. Bleach kills household germs. Smoking kills.2kill yourself a)to cause your own death: You’re going to kill yourself on that bike. After her husband died, Mary tried to kill herself. b)to work very hard to achieve something, in a way that makes you ill or tired: It’s not worth killing yourself over it.kill yourself to do something He about killed himself to make the business go.3make something stop/fail [transitive] to make something stop operating or fail: Joe pulled in and killed the engine. The out-of-town shopping centre will kill local trade.kill your speed (=drive slowly)4be angry with somebody [transitive] informal to be very angry with someone: Mom will kill me if I’m late.5annoyed/sad [transitive] to make someone feel annoyed, sad, concerned etcit kills somebody to do something It kills me to see him working so hard. What happened next? The suspense is killing me.6would/could kill for something (also would kill to do something) to want something so much that you will do almost anything to get it or do it: I could kill for a smoke right now. In those days, actors would kill to break into film.7my head/back etc is killing me spoken used to say that a part of your body is hurting a lot: I’ve walked miles and my feet are killing me.8kill time/an hour etc to spend time doing something which is not important, while you are waiting to do something important or waiting for something else to happen: With time to kill, he took a cab to the centre.9kill a beer/bottle of wine etc spoken to drink or finish drinking a beer etc quickly: Let’s kill these beers and go.10make somebody laugh [transitive] to make someone laugh a lotkill yourself laughing They weren’t bothered – in fact, they were killing themselves laughing.11 it won’t/wouldn’t kill somebody (to do something) spoken used to say that someone could easily do something, and ought to do it: It wouldn’t kill you to help out once in a while.12(even) if it kills me spoken used to emphasize that you are determined to do something, even though it is very difficult: I’m completing this course, even if it kills me.13kill two birds with one stone to achieve two things with one action14kill the goose that lays the golden egg to destroy the thing that brings you profit or success15kill the fatted calf to welcome someone home with a big meal etc after they have been away for a long time16kill somebody with kindness to be too kind to someone, in a way that actually harms them17kill or cure used to say that something you are going to do will be either successful or fail completely → dressed to kill at dressed(3)THESAURUSkill to make someone die: · The driver and his passenger were killed in the crash.· He was killed by rival gang members.murder to deliberately kill someone – used when talking about this as a crime: · He was convicted of murdering his wife.commit manslaughter to kill someone without intending to – used when talking about this as a crime: · The court ruled that the guard had committed manslaughter.assassinate to deliberately kill an important person, especially a politician: · He was part of a plot to assassinate Hitler.slay to kill someone or something in a violent way – used in newspaper reports and also in old stories: · Two teenagers were slain in the shootings.· St. George slew the dragon.· The king was slain at the battle of Hastings.execute formal (also put somebody to death) to kill someone as a punishment for a crime: · McVeigh, who killed 168 people in a bombing attack, was executed by lethal injection.eliminate to kill someone in order to prevent them from causing trouble: · a ruthless dictator who eliminated all his rivalstake somebody out informal to kill someone in order to get rid of them, especially an enemy or someone who is causing trouble for you: · US forces used air strikes to take out the enemy positions.· One of the other drug dealers may have decided to take him out.bump somebody off humorous informal to kill someone: · He was so irritating I felt like bumping him off myself.do away with somebody informal to kill someone: · The settlers in Jamestown had been done away with, but no one knew how.to kill yourselfcommit suicide to kill yourself: · He committed suicide after the death of his girlfriend.take your own life formal to kill yourself: · He had taken his own life while he was severely depressed.· They believe that it is a sin to take your own life.to kill a large number of peoplemassacre to kill a large number of people in a violent way: · Thousands of peaceful demonstrators were massacred by the soldiers.slaughter to kill a large number of people in a violent way. Slaughter is also used about killing animals for food: · The army slaughtered thousands of civilians in an effort to stop the revolt.· The pigs were slaughtered on the farm.exterminate to kill large numbers of a particular group, so that they no longer exist: · Hitler’s goal was to exterminate the Jews.kill something ↔ off phrasal verb1to cause the death of a lot of living things SYN destroy: Pollution is rapidly killing off plant life.2to stop or remove something completely SYN destroy: These figures kill off any hope that the economy is poised for recovery.kill1 verbkill2 noun
killkill2 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Shoot only if you are confident of a kill.
- The winning point came on a kill by Amy Earle.
- But you can never effect a total kill.
- In 1963, too, the sperm-whale kill reached its peak, claiming about thirty thousand of the great beasts.
- That lasted only a few seconds; then the leopard got a good hold on its kill.
- The snakes are sometimes hard to find, so the Webers never miss a chance to make a kill.
- This was his fourth patrol of the day and only his first kill of the week.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He had killed a man with his bare hands. terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing The passenger was killed outright. The plane was reported missing. The soldiers had orders to shoot to kill (=shoot at someone with the intention of killing them). Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me (=I feel very excited or anxious because I do not know what will happen next).
(=killed or wounded while fighting)· Four of her sons have been killed in action.
He had killed a man with his bare hands.· Eight people were killed in clashes between the army and police.
· Last year, an underground explosion killed 82 miners.
informal (=my feet are hurting)
terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing· I needed a pain-killing injection in my elbow.
The passenger was killed outright. The plane was reported missing.· Her death was followed by a series of revenge killings.
The soldiers had orders to shoot to kill (=shoot at someone with the intention of killing them). Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me (=I feel very excited or anxious because I do not know what will happen next). (=spend time doing something unimportant while waiting for something)· He was just killing time before his appointment.
(=have time to do something unimportant while waiting for something)· I still had some time to kill, so I thought I’d make a couple of phone calls.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► run out the clock/kill the clock► a gangland killing/murder/shooting etc► if looks could kill
- The townspeople had learned the hard way that curiosity killed the cat - you stayed indoors if there was trouble.
- In her black velvet cocktail dress, Elaine Russell was dressed to kill.
- Erica, who had been dressed to kill when he got to the flat, had agreed.
- He is dressed to kill with no place to go.
- A family of illegal aliens is peppered with shotgun pellets in a drive-by shooting.
- A second drive-by shooting March 19 was linked to another gang.
- All we get is this stereotyping of violence that I believe leads to drive-by shootings.
- As far as we know, nobody ever pulled a drive-by shooting from a golf cart.
- G., was killed March 9 in a Los Angeles drive-by shooting.
- One person died in a drive-by shooting and several were injured.
- The last attack was a drive-by shooting about 3 a. m. June 1.
- Your son was killed in a drive-by shooting.
- Indeed, as expectations can kill the magic stone dead, such occasions are often evoked by going somewhere completely new.
WORD FAMILYnounkilloverkillkillerkillingadjectivekillerverbkill
1[countable usually singular] the act of killing a hunted animal: He raised his knife for the kill.2move in/close in for the kill to come closer to something in order to kill, defeat, or destroy it: Enemy submarines were moving in for the kill.3[singular] an animal that is killed by another animal: The cubs will share the remains of the kill.