kɪl v. & n. --v.tr. 1 a
deprive of
life or
vitality; put to
death;
cause the death
of. b (absol.) cause or
bring about death (must kill to survive). 2
destroy; put an
end to (feelings etc.) (overwork killed my enthusiasm). 3 refl. (often foll. by pres. part.) colloq. a
overexert oneself (don't kill
yourself lifting
them all at once). b
laugh heartily. 4 colloq.
overwhelm (a person)
with amusement,
delight, etc. (the things he says
really kill me). 5
switch off (a
spotlight,
engine, etc.). 6 colloq.
delete (a line,
paragraph, etc.)
from a
computer file. 7 colloq. cause
pain or
discomfort to (my
feet are
killing me). 8 pass (time, or a specified
amount of it) usu.
while waiting for a
specific event (had an
hour to kill
before the interview). 9
defeat (a bill in Parliament). 10 colloq.
consume the
entire contents of (a
bottle of
wine etc.). 11 a
Tennis etc.
hit (the ball) so skilfully
that it
cannot be returned. b
stop (the ball)
dead. 12
neutralize or
render ineffective (taste,
sound,
colour, etc.) (thick
carpet killed the sound of footsteps). --n. 1 an
act of killing (esp. an animal). 2 an
animal or animals killed,
esp. by a
sportsman. 3 colloq. the
destruction or disablement of an
enemy aircraft,
submarine, etc. ødressed to kill dressed showily, alluringly, or impressively. in at the kill present at or benefiting from the
successful conclusion of an
enterprise. kill off 1
get rid of or destroy completely (esp. a
number of persons or things). 2 (of an author) bring about the death of (a fictional character). kill or
cure (usu. attrib.) (of a
remedy etc.)
drastic,
extreme. kill
two birds with
one stone achieve two aims at
once. kill with
kindness spoil (a person) with overindulgence. [ME câlle, kille, perh. ult. rel. to QUELL]
