Law. the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder, ormurder one ), and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder, ormurder two ).
Slang. something extremely difficult or perilous: That final exam was murder!
a group or flock of crows.
verb (used with object)
Law. to kill by an act constituting murder.
to kill or slaughter inhumanly or barbarously.
to spoil or mar by bad performance, representation, pronunciation, etc.: The tenor murdered the aria.
verb (used without object)
to commit murder.
Idioms for murder
get away with murder, Informal. to engage in a deplorable activity without incurring harm or punishment: The new baby-sitter lets the kids get away with murder.
murder will out, a secret will eventually be exposed.
yell / scream bloody murder,
to scream loudly in pain, fear, etc.
to protest loudly and angrily: If I don't get a good raise I'm going to yell bloody murder.
Origin of murder
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English mo(u)rdre, murder, variant (influenced by Old French murdre, from Germanic ) of murthre; see murther
synonym study for murder
4. See kill1.
OTHER WORDS FROM murder
self-murder,nounself-murdered,adjective
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH murder
1. homicide, manslaughter, murder2. execute, kill1, murder (see synonym study at kill1)
Words nearby murder
Murchison, Murchison Falls, Murcia, murcott, murdabad, murder, murderball, murderee, murderer, murderess, Murder in the Cathedral
The group also urged Baja California lawmakers to add a formal recognition of murder based on gender identity to the state’s Penal Code.
Tijuana authorities criticized over handling of transgender woman’s murder|Michael K. Lavers|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Instead, she urged prosecutors to give LeBlond a chance to confess to the murder and accept responsibility, WTOP reported.
Md. man charged in 2015 trans murder sentenced to 35 years|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Obviously this is useful in the countries, such as Brazil, where murder rates are about five times the global average and crime has been seen as a major problem in the society.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state|Anthony Green|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
They started an advertising agency that focused on the luxury fashion world, but after the murder of Trayvon Martin they decided to move into the social justice space.
‘Antebellum’ explores truths of our ugly past|Brian T. Carney|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade
He was also accused of attempted murder, and even had milk dumped on him.
The Last Bar Standing?|Eugene Robinson|September 15, 2020|Ozy
Murder, suicide, illness, old age: These deaths stalk us all, but in prison, they collect us so much more cheaply.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Murder, violent crime, unemployment, and taxes all rose dramatically under his stewardship.
The Ugly Truth About Cory Booker, New Jersey’s Golden Boy|Olivia Nuzzi|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Murder Boner” is a great one: “The thought of extinguishing a human life really makes me aroused.
Inside the Mind of ‘The League’s Rafi: Jason Mantzoukas and Seth Rogen on TV’s Craziest Dude|Marlow Stern|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Murder, drugs, and arson are mercifully absent from his story but many things are different than before.
A Teacher Returns to the Classroom and Gets Schooled|Nick Romeo|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Saul Bass, the greatest designer of movie title sequences (Anatomy of a Murder, The Man with the Golden Arm) in Hollywood history.
How Jews Created American Modernism|Andrew Romano|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Murder and lust and mad passion were hidden in the darkness; law and order and civilization were hundreds of miles away.
The Alaskan|James Oliver Curwood
In one thing only were they united—in their desire to see the last of Murder Point.
Murder Point|Coningsby Dawson
Murder, rape, arson, and pillage began from the moment when the German Army crossed the frontier.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 3, June, 1915|Various
Murder, theft, and arson combined, would scarcely have been more horrible in his eyes.
The White Lady of Hazelwood|Emily Sarah Holt
Murder cuts at the source of all society—which war, which is organized killing, does not.
The King of Alsander|James Elroy Flecker
British Dictionary definitions for murder
murder
/ (ˈmɜːdə) /
noun
the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by anotherCompare manslaughter, homicide
informalsomething dangerous, difficult, or unpleasantdriving around London is murder
cry blue murderinformalto make an outcry
get away with murderinformalto escape censure; do as one pleases
verb(mainly tr)
(also intr)to kill (someone) unlawfully with premeditation or during the commission of a crime
to kill brutally
informalto destroy; ruinhe murdered her chances of happiness
informalto defeat completely; beat decisivelythe home team murdered their opponents
Also (archaic or dialect): murther
Derived forms of murder
murderer, nounmurderess, fem n
Word Origin for murder
Old English morthor; related to Old English morth, Old Norse morth, Latin mors death; compare French meurtre
Manslaughter vs. Murder: Differences In Intent And DegreeHow can a person cause the death of another without the act being considered a murder? It comes down to the difference between manslaughter and murder.
READ MORE
A Smack Of Jellyfish And Other Strange Animal GroupsAnd, many of these animal groups have colorful, fanciful names: a murder of crows, a covey of partridges, a clowder of cats.