massacre
To kill in considerable numbers where little or no resistance can be made, with…To kill in considerable numbers where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to civilized norms. (Often limited to the killing of human beings.)
» Tom told us about the massacre.
Meaning
4 senses(transitive)To kill in considerable numbers where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to civilized norms. (Often limited to the killing of human beings.)
massakrieren, niedermetzeln, abschlachten
устра́ивать резню́ustráivatʹ reznjú, устро́ить резню́ustróitʹ reznjú
(figuratively, transitive)To win against (an opponent) very decisively.
(figuratively, transitive)To perform (a work, such as a musical piece or a play) very poorly.
(proscribed, transitive)To kill with great force or brutality.
- kill a large number of people indiscriminately
Examples
45 sentencesTom told us about the massacre.
Did you hear about the massacre?
Tom was the only survivor of the massacre.
Tom wasn't the only survivor of the massacre.
It was a massacre.
deEs war ein Massaker.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
1580, from Middle French massacre, from Old French macacre, marcacre, macecre, macecle (“s1580, from Middle French massacre, from Old French macacre, marcacre, macecre, macecle (“slaughterhouse, butchery”), usually thought to be deverbal from Old French macecrer, macecler (“to slaughter”), though the noun seems to be attested somewhat earlier. It is also found in Medieval Latin mazacrium (“massacre, slaughter, killing”, also “the head of a newly killed stag”). Further origin disputed:
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Forms
massacres, massacring, massacred, massacredSynonyms
2 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle