slaughter

[slaw-ter]

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noun

the killing or butchering of cattle, sheep, etc., especially for food.

the brutal or violent killing of a person.

the killing of great numbers of people or animals indiscriminately; carnage: the slaughter of war.

verb (used with object)

to kill or butcher (animals), especially for food.

to kill in a brutal or violent manner.

to slay in great numbers; massacre.

Informal. to defeat thoroughly; trounce: They slaughtered our team.

Nearby words

Origin of slaughter

1250–1300; Middle English slaghter, slahter, slauther (noun) < Old Norse slātr, earlier slāttr, slahtr

SYNONYMS FOR slaughter

2. murder. 4–6. Slaughter, butcher, massacre all imply violent and bloody methods of killing. Slaughter and butcher, primarily referring to the killing of animals for food, are used also of the brutal or indiscriminate killing of human beings: to slaughter cattle; to butcher a hog. Massacre indicates a general slaughtering of helpless or unresisting victims: to massacre the peasants of a region.

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Related formsslaugh·ter·er, nounslaugh·ter·ing·ly, adverbun·slaugh·tered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for slaughtered

We are just coming off the midterm elections, too, where the Democrats got slaughtered.
Jon Stewart Talks ‘Rosewater’ and the ‘Chickensh-t’ Democrats’ Midterm Massacre|Marlow Stern|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Assad, for his part, has slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his own people, most likely with little regard for their dignity.
Rand Paul Channels Malala to Bash Obama|Olivia Nuzzi|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or the Hutus who slaughtered their way through 800,000 Tutsis over the course of three months?
ISIS and BS|Amal Ghandour|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last month, dozens were abducted and slaughtered—by the police.
Anatomy of a Mexican Student Massacre|Jason McGahan|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A war in which Syrians have been slaughtered daily for years and the last images of Americans ended with their beheading.
The U.S. Veteran and Wisconsin Boy Who Went to Fight ISIS in Syria|Jacob Siegel|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His stores of oatmeal were brought out, kine were slaughtered; and a rude and hasty meal was set before the numerous guests.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Many children have in this way been slaughtered but Kansa is still uncertain whether his prime purpose has been fulfilled.
The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry|W. G. Archer
These latter fully expected to be slaughtered immediately, and to be offered up to idols, if not to be eaten.
The Cruise of the Mary Rose|William H. G. Kingston
Here in the past were slaughtered beasts for food, and men and 37 women for their opinions.
In Jail with Charles Dickens|Alfred Trumble
The handful of people who lived on the shore robbed the nests and slaughtered the birds, with considerable profit.
The Ruling Passion|Henry van Dyke

British Dictionary definitions for slaughtered

slaughter

noun

the killing of animals, esp for food

the savage killing of a person

the indiscriminate or brutal killing of large numbers of people, as in war; massacre

informal a resounding defeat

verb (tr)

to kill (animals), esp for food

to kill in a brutal manner

to kill indiscriminately or in large numbers

informal to defeat resoundingly

Derived Formsslaughterer, nounslaughterous, adjective

Word Origin for slaughter

Old English sleaht; related to Old Norse slāttar hammering, slātr butchered meat, Old High German slahta, Gothic slauhts, German Schlacht battle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for slaughtered

slaughter

c.1300, "killing of a cattle or sheep for food, killing of a person," from a Scandinavian *slahtr, akin to Old Norse slatr "a butchering, butcher meat," slatra "to slaughter," slattr "a mowing" from Proto-Germanic *slukhtis, related to Old Norse sla "to strike" (see slay (v.)) + formative suffix (cf. laugh/laughter). Meaning "killing of a large number of persons in battle" is attested from mid-14c. Old English had slieht "stroke, slaughter, murder, death; animals for slaughter;" cf. sliehtswyn "pig for killing."

slaughter

1530s, "butcher an animal for market," from slaughter (n.). Meaning "slay wantonly, ruthlessly, or in great numbers" is from 1580s. Related: Slaughtered; slaughtering.

Idioms and Phrases with slaughtered

slaughter

see like a lamb to the slaughter.

slaughter

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of slaughter

Examples from the Web for slaughtered

slaughter

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for slaughter

slaughter

slaughter

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