26984 words

kills

20 definitions • 36 examples
1
to cause someone or something to die:

Examples:

Her parents were killed in a plane crash.
Smoking can kill.
Food must be heated to a high temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
2

Examples:

Lack of romance can kill a marriage.
They gave her some tablets to kill the pain.
Kill your speed.
3
to drink all of something:

Examples:

We killed off two six-packs watching the game.
4
to cause someone a lot of effort or difficulty:

Examples:

It wouldn't kill you to apologize.
He didn't exactly kill himself trying to get the work finished.
5
to cause someone a lot of pain:

Examples:

I must sit down, my feet are killing me!
6
If you say that someone will kill you, you mean that they will be very angry with you:

Examples:

My sister would kill me if she heard me say that.
7
to make someone laugh a lot:

Examples:

That comedian kills me.
8
to laugh very much:

Examples:

It was so funny - we were all killing ourselves.
Here's something that will make you kill yourself laughing.
9
in ice hockey, to successfully prevent the opposing team from scoring during a time when your team has one fewer player because of a penalty (= a punishment for breaking the rules):

Examples:

kill a penalty The Penguins killed the penalty and ultimately took the game.
10
In rugby, if a player kills the ball, they prevent it from being played, especially in a way that is against the rules:

Examples:

kill the ball Jones was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball.
11
in football, to stop a moving ball with your foot or chest:

Examples:

She killed the pass with her left foot, turned, and fired the ball home with her right.
kill the ball He deftly killed the ball on his chest.
12
In sports such as tennis, badminton, table tennis, and volleyball, if a player kills the ball, they hit it hard into the opponent's area of play in order to win a point:

Examples:

She killed the smash to take the game and the first set.
The floaty backhand was just asking to be killed.
13
to prevent a story, report, photograph, etc. from being published or broadcast in the media:

Examples:

He spoke with a top editor at the New York Times, trying to get them to kill the story.
Every freelance writer has had a story killed at some point.
14
an animal or bird that has been hunted and killed, or the action of killing:

Examples:

The leopard seizes its kill and begins to eat.
move in for the kill Like other birds of prey, it quickly moves in for the kill.
15
in ice hockey, a successful attempt to prevent an opposing team from scoring during a time when your team has one fewer player because of a penalty (= punishment for breaking the rules):

Examples:

He's a big, physical defenceman who moves the puck well and is great on the penalty kill.
16
to cause someone or something to die:

Examples:

[ T ] Livestock are being killed by tigers in some areas.
[ I ] Just a tiny drop of this poison is enough to kill.
[ T ] fig. If you tell Mom, I’ll kill you (= I will be extremely angry with you).
17
To kill something can also mean to hurt, damage, remove, or destroy it:

Examples:

[ T ] It wouldn’t kill you to apologize.
[ T ] The doctor gave her something to kill the pain.
18
If you kill time or have time to kill, you do something while you are waiting for something else to happen:

Examples:

We killed some time playing cards while we waited for the flight.
I had a couple of hours to kill before dinner.
19
an animal that has been hunted and killed:

Examples:

The leopard seized its kill and dragged it into the bush.
20
to stop or destroy something:

Examples:

The board's negative vote killed the deal.

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