terminate
[tur-muh-neyt]
- to bring to an end; put an end to: to terminate a contract.
- to occur at or form the conclusion of: The countess's soliloquy terminates the play.
- to bound or limit spatially; form or be situated at the extremity of.
- to dismiss from a job; fire: to terminate employees during a recession.
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- to end, conclude, or cease.
- (of a train, bus, or other public conveyance) to end a scheduled run at a certain place: This train terminates in New York.
- to come to an end (often followed by at, in, or with).
- to issue or result (usually followed by in).
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Origin of terminate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for terminate on Thesaurus.com1, 2. end, finish, conclude, close, complete.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for terminate
Contemporary Examples
And sometimes, they chose to terminate their pregnancies by having abortions.
Instead, the county filed to terminate his rights based on his mental illness.
Abortifacients, by contrast, are used to terminate an existing pregnancy.
Has the IRS taken actions to terminate the offending employees?
Republic wanted to terminate its obligations and put workers in a 401(k) (or at least a more solvent Teamster pension plan).
Historical Examples
All you will regret is, that she comes to terminate my visit, and take me away with her.
Alice, or The Mysteries, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
I hope that will not terminate my engagement, sir, or render me useless?'
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
He had never seen the instrument that was to terminate his life.
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
He was only enjoying an interview—a vengeance—he was loath to terminate.
The Big TomorrowPaul Lohrman
I know, and I tell you frankly, but only you, that my career in the police may terminate in consequence.
The Law-BreakersRidgwell Cullum
terminate
- (when intr, often foll by in or with) to form, be, or put an end (to); concludeto terminate a pregnancy; their relationship terminated amicably
- (tr) to connect (suitable circuitry) to the end of an electrical transmission line to absorb the energy and avoid reflections
- (intr) maths (of a decimal expansion) to have only a finite number of digits
- (tr) slang to kill (someone)
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin terminātus limited, from termināre to set boundaries, from terminus end
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for terminate
v.
1610s, "to bring to an end," from Latin terminatus, past participle of terminare "to limit, end" (see terminus). Sense of "to come to an end" is recorded from 1640s; meaning "dismiss from a job" is recorded from 1973; that of "to assassinate" is from 1975. Related: Terminated; terminating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper