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.