killing

[kil-ing]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that kills.

2. the total game killed on a hunt.

3. Informal.,  a quick and unusually large profit or financial gain.

   We would all like to win the lottery or make a killing in the stock market.

adjective

1. fatal; deadly.

   Tuberculosis was a killing disease well into the 20th century, and society found itself with few remedies.

2. exhausting.

   An ever-expanding workload is imperceptible at first, but eventually we're operating at a killing pace.

3. Informal.,  irresistibly funny.

4. Slang.,  very attractive or fascinating.

   The actress is known for her outstanding beauty and killing smile.

killing

/ ˈkɪlɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal,  very tiring; exhausting

   a killing pace

2. informal,  extremely funny; hilarious

3. causing death; fatal

noun

1. the act of causing death; slaying

2. informal,  a sudden stroke of success, usually financial, as in speculations on the stock market (esp in the phrase make a killing )

Other Word Forms

• killingly adverb
• self-killing adjective
• unkilling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of killing¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English killing(e), kyllyng(e) (gerund); kill ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response, so far killing at least 66,288 people, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

From BBC

Two days later, Dughmush said, Israeli warplanes began pounding the tribe’s neighborhood, killing more than 100 members of his clan.

From Los Angeles Times

Organisers of Saturday's protest had been asked to reconsider their plans following the killing of two men at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur - the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.

From BBC

A study published Monday offers clarity on a more than decade-long marine mystery: What has been killing the velvety sunflower sea star?

From Los Angeles Times

Alan Levy, the synagogue's chairman of trustees told ITV News, he heard Al-Shamie shouting "this is what they get for killing our children", before "banging his knife into the glass, trying to get through".

From BBC

Related Words

• assassination 
• bloodshed 
• carnage 
• homicide 
• manslaughter 
• massacre 
• slaughter 
• slaying www.thesaurus.com