1 kill
Pronounced:
/ˈkɪl/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
kills; killed; kill·ingMeaning:
1 : to cause the death of (a person, animal, or plant) : to end the life of (someone or something) [+ obj] ▪ This poison kills rats. ▪ The disease has killed thousands of people. ▪ Three people were killed in the accident. ▪ a chemical that kills weeds ▪ In despair he threatened to kill himself. [=to commit suicide] ▪ If he keeps working this hard, he's going to kill himself. [=he's going to have health problems that cause his death] —often used figuratively ▪ My father will kill me [=he will be very angry] when he finds out that I dented the car. ▪ I'll finish this job if it kills me! [=I am very determined to finish this job] ▪ It wouldn't kill you to help me clean up the kitchen. = Would it kill you to help me clean up the kitchen? [=you should help me clean up the kitchen] [no obj] ▪ Drunk driving kills. ▪ a disease that can kill ▪ I've never seen her so angry. If looks could kill, I'd be dead right now. [=she looked at me in a very angry way] —often used figuratively ▪ I'd kill for hair like hers! [=I wish I had hair like hers]
2 [+ obj] : to cause the end of (something) ▪ If she enters the contest, it will kill [=destroy] our chances of winning. ▪ She took an aspirin to kill [=stop] her headache. ▪ taking drugs to kill the pain ▪ Despite protests, the mayor killed the program. ▪ The committee killed the bill. ▪ This delay has killed our chances of finishing the project on schedule. ▪ The editor decided to kill [=to not publish] the controversial news story.
3 [+ obj] informal : to turn (something) off with a switch ▪ She told him to kill the lights. ▪ He killed [=shut off] the engine and got out of the car.
4 [+ obj] informal : to spend (time) doing something while you are waiting ▪ We killed time by reading magazines. ▪ We have a couple of hours to kill before we board the plane.
5 [+ obj] informal a : to cause (someone) to feel extreme pain or to suffer ▪ My feet are killing me. [=my feet hurt very much] ▪ Working these long hours is killing me. b : to make (someone) nervous or unhappy ▪ I'm still waiting to hear if I got the job. The suspense is killing me. ▪ It really kills me to think of how much money I could have made if I had invested in that company.
6 [+ obj] informal : to amuse or entertain (someone) very much ▪ That guy kills me. [=I think he's very funny] ▪ His jokes always kill me. ▪ Her performance killed the audience. [=the audience loved her performance]
7 [+ obj] informal : to drink (something) completely ▪ He killed three beers in less than an hour.
2 [+ obj] : to cause the end of (something) ▪ If she enters the contest, it will kill [=destroy] our chances of winning. ▪ She took an aspirin to kill [=stop] her headache. ▪ taking drugs to kill the pain ▪ Despite protests, the mayor killed the program. ▪ The committee killed the bill. ▪ This delay has killed our chances of finishing the project on schedule. ▪ The editor decided to kill [=to not publish] the controversial news story.
3 [+ obj] informal : to turn (something) off with a switch ▪ She told him to kill the lights. ▪ He killed [=shut off] the engine and got out of the car.
4 [+ obj] informal : to spend (time) doing something while you are waiting ▪ We killed time by reading magazines. ▪ We have a couple of hours to kill before we board the plane.
5 [+ obj] informal a : to cause (someone) to feel extreme pain or to suffer ▪ My feet are killing me. [=my feet hurt very much] ▪ Working these long hours is killing me. b : to make (someone) nervous or unhappy ▪ I'm still waiting to hear if I got the job. The suspense is killing me. ▪ It really kills me to think of how much money I could have made if I had invested in that company.
6 [+ obj] informal : to amuse or entertain (someone) very much ▪ That guy kills me. [=I think he's very funny] ▪ His jokes always kill me. ▪ Her performance killed the audience. [=the audience loved her performance]
7 [+ obj] informal : to drink (something) completely ▪ He killed three beers in less than an hour.
dressed to kill —see dressed
fit to kill —see 1fit
kill off [phrasal verb]
kill off (something) or kill (something) off 1 : to kill all of (something) : to kill every one of (a group) ▪ Scientists aren't certain what killed off the dinosaurs. ▪ She killed off her relatives to get the inheritance.
2 : to remove (something) completely : to get rid of (something) ▪ The company has become so successful that it has killed off the competition.
2 : to remove (something) completely : to get rid of (something) ▪ The company has become so successful that it has killed off the competition.
kill (someone) with kindness
: to treat (someone) in a way that is too kind or helpful and that actually causes harm
kill the clock —see 1clock
kill two birds with one stone
: to achieve two things by doing a single action ▪ We can kill two birds with one stone by dropping off the mail when we go the grocery store.