26984 words

slaughter

11 definitions • 9 examples
1
the killing of many people cruelly and unfairly, especially in a war:

Examples:

Hardly anyone in the town escaped the slaughter when the rebels were defeated.
We must find ways of reducing the slaughter which takes place on our roads (= death of many people in car accidents) every year.
2
the killing of animals for meat:

Examples:

The geese are being fattened for slaughter.
3
an occasion when one team is very easily defeated by the other:

Examples:

Saturday's game was an absolute slaughter.
4
to cruelly and unfairly kill a lot of people:

Examples:

Thousands of people were slaughtered in the civil war.
5
to kill an animal for meat:

Examples:

The animals are slaughtered in spring.
6
to defeat someone very easily:

Examples:

7
the killing of animals for their meat, or the killing of large numbers of animals in a cruel manner
8
the killing of large numbers of people:

Examples:

We must find ways of reducing the slaughter on the highways (= deaths of many people in car accidents).
9
to kill large numbers of people
10
infml In sports and other competitions, to slaughter is to defeat easily:

Examples:

The Red Sox slaughtered the Yankees in last night’s baseball game, winning 12 to 0.
11
to kill animals, esp. for their meat

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