lethal
[ lee-thuh l ]
/ ˈli θəl /
adjective
of, relating to, or causing death; deadly; fatal: a lethal weapon; a lethal dose.
made or carried out to cause death: a lethal chamber; a lethal attack.
causing great harm or destruction: The disclosures were lethal to his candidacy.
Nearby words
leta, letch, letchworth, letdown, letha, lethal, lethal chamber, lethal dose, lethal factor, lethal gene, lethal midline granuloma
Origin of lethal
1575–85; < Latin lētālis, equivalent to lēt(um) death + -ālis -al1; spelling (hence pronunciation) with -h- by association with Greek lḗthē oblivion
Related forms
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for lethal
British Dictionary definitions for lethal
lethal
/ (ˈliːθəl) /
adjective
able to cause or causing death
of or suggestive of death
Derived Forms
lethality (liːˈθælɪtɪ), nounlethally, adverbWord Origin for lethal
C16: from Latin lēthālis, from lētum death
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for lethal
lethal
[ lē′thəl ]
adj.
Capable of causing death.
Of, relating to, or causing death.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.