| 单词 | decimate |
| 释义 | decimate (once / 4903 pages) v If something is drastically reduced or killed, especially in number, you can say it was decimated. "The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico decimated the wildlife along the coast." The verb decimate originally referred to a form of capital punishment for Roman troops. If there was a rebellion, one out of every ten men (thus the dec in decimate) was put to death. So the word's first expanded usage was to mean a ten percent reduction or a ten percent tax. Modern usage gives the word decimate its "drastically reduced" meaning, but the verb can also be used to mean "to wipe out" or "to eliminate." WORD FAMILYdecimate: decimated, decimates, decimating, decimation+/decimation: decimations USAGE EXAMPLESInjuries decimated Tennessee at defensive tackle and forced the Vols to use several different starting combinations on the offensive line and in the secondary. Washington Times(Dec 31, 2016) Rats spread disease, decimate crops and very occasionally eat people alive. The Guardian(Dec 26, 2016) During the 19th century, warfare with whites and smallpox outbreaks decimate tribal numbers just as settlers start streaming into the West en masse. Los Angeles Times(Dec 23, 2016) 1v kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies Syn|Hyper annihilate, carry off, eliminate, eradicate, extinguish, wipe out kill in large numbers kill cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly 2v kill in large numbers Syn|Hyper annihilate, carry off, eliminate, eradicate, extinguish, wipe out kill cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly |
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