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kill
kill1 / kil/ • v. [tr.] 1. cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing): her father was killed in a car crash| [intr.] a robber armed with a shotgun who kills in cold blood. ∎ put an end to or cause the failure or defeat of (something): the committee voted to kill the project. ∎ stop (a computer program or process). ∎ inf. switch off (a light or engine). ∎ inf. delete (a line, paragraph, or file) from a document or computer. ∎ (in soccer or other ball games) make (the ball) stop. ∎ (in tennis and similar games) hit (the ball) so forcefully that it cannot be returned. ∎ neutralize or subdue (an effect or quality): the sauce would kill the taste of the herbs. ∎ inf. consume the entire contents of (a bottle containing an alcoholic drink). 2. inf. overwhelm (someone) with an emotion: the suspense is killing me. ∎ (kill oneself) overexert oneself: I killed myself carrying those things home. ∎ used hyperbolically to indicate that someone is extremely angry with another person: my parents will kill me if they catch me out here. ∎ cause pain or anguish to: my feet are killing me. 3. pass (time, or a specified amount of it), typically while waiting for a particular event: when he reached the station, he found he actually had an hour to kill. • n. [usu. in sing.] an act of killing, esp. of one animal by another: a lion has made a kill. ∎ an animal or animals killed, either by a hunter or by another animal: the vulture is able to survey the land and locate a fresh kill. ∎ inf. an act of destroying or disabling an enemy aircraft, submarine, tank, etc. ∎ (in tennis and similar games) a very forceful shot that cannot be returned. kill2 • n. [in place names] chiefly New York State a stream, creek, or tributary: Kill Van Kull. |
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Cite this article
"kill." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kill." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-kill.html "kill." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-kill.html |
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kill
kill v.
1. cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing): the casualty report listed three killed, thirteen wounded. 2. put an end to or cause the failure or defeat of (something): the committee voted to kill the project. n. informal an act of destroying or disabling an enemy aircraft, submarine, tank, etc. go or move in or close in for the kill take decisive action, often ruthlessly, to turn a situation to one's advantage. |
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"kill." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kill." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-kill.html "kill." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-kill.html |
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kill
kill kill or cure (of a remedy for a problem) likely to either work well or fail catastrophically, with no possibility of partial success.
kill two birds with one stone achieve two aims at once; proverbial, recorded from the mid 17th century. See also care killed the cat, curiosity killed the cat, kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, it is the pace that kills. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "kill." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "kill." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-kill.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "kill." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-kill.html |
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kill
kill To end a particular event or action violently. For example, if a program is misbehaving it can be killed by pressing some keys on a keyboard, or if a THREAD in a NEWSGROUP is deviating from the aims of the newsgroup then the MODERATOR may kill it. See TOPIC DRIFT.
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DARREL INCE. "kill." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DARREL INCE. "kill." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-kill.html DARREL INCE. "kill." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-kill.html |
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kill
kill †strike, beat XIII; put to death XIV. ME. kulle, kille, kelle; these vars. point to an OE. *cyllan :- Gmc. *kuljan, rel. by gradation to *kwaljan kill, QUELL.
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T. F. HOAD. "kill." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "kill." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-kill.html T. F. HOAD. "kill." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-kill.html |
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Kill
Killthe carcasses of birds or animals killed by a sportsman. See also bag . |
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"Kill." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Kill." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300875.html "Kill." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300875.html |
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Kill
Kill (Cill) Cavan, Kildare, Waterford. ‘Church’.
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A. D. MILLS. "Kill." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Kill." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Kill.html A. D. MILLS. "Kill." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Kill.html |
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kill
kill •bill, Brazil, brill, Camille, chill, cookchill, dill, distil (US distill), downhill, drill, Edgehill, Estoril, fill, freewill, frill, fulfil (US fulfill), Gill, goodwill, grill, grille, hill, ill, instil, kill, krill, mil, mill, nil, Phil, pill, quadrille, quill, rill, Seville, shill, shrill, sill, skill, spadille, spill, squill, still, stock-still, swill, thill, thrill, till, trill, twill, until, uphill, will
•hwyl • bank bill • handbill • waxbill
•playbill, waybill
•cranesbill • sibyl • crossbill • sawbill
•hornbill • storksbill • shoebill
•spoonbill • duckbill • razorbill
•gerbil • wind chill • Churchill • idyll
•daffodil • back-fill • landfill • monofil
•fibrefill (US fiberfill) • chlorophyll
•bluegill
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"kill." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kill." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-kill.html "kill." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-kill.html |
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