Slaughter

/ˈslɔː.tər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The killing of animals for food or the brutal killing of people.

The slaughter of the sheep was conducted in a humane manner.

A violent massacre or a large-scale killing.

The movie depicted the slaughter of innocents during the war.

verb

To kill (an animal) for food.

They decided to slaughter the pig for the winter feast.

To kill in a brutal or violent manner.

The historian detailed how the invaders slaughtered the village.

To defeat someone or something very severely.

The home team slaughtered their opponents in the championship match.

Middle English 'slaughter', from Old English 'sleaht' meaning 'slaying, killing'.

lamb to the slaughter

A person or animal being led to a situation where they will face destruction or suffering without awareness.

slaughterhouse

A place where animals are slaughtered for food.

slaughtered by the competition

To be decisively defeated in a competition or comparison.

butcher

A person who slaughters animals or sells meat.

carnage

The killing of a large number of people, especially in a war.

bloodshed

The killing or wounding of people, typically in violent situations.

To dominate or defeat someone completely.

We slaughtered them in the game.

To make a mess of something.

He really slaughtered that exam.