Definition of "kill" in Anglais

verb

1. (transitive) To put to death; to extinguish the life of.

   • Smoking kills more people each year than alcohol and hard drugs combined.

2. (transitive) To render inoperative.

   • He killed the engine and turned off the headlights, but remained in the car, waiting.

3. (transitive, figuratively) To stop, cease, or render void; to terminate.

   • The editor decided to kill the story.
   • The news that a hurricane had destroyed our beach house killed our plans to sell it.
   • My computer wouldn't respond until I killed some of the running processes.

4. (transitive, figuratively, hyperbolic) To amaze, exceed, stun, or otherwise incapacitate.

   • That night, she was dressed to kill.
   • That joke always kills me.

5. (transitive or intransitive, figuratively, hyperbolic) To cause great pain, discomfort, or distress to; to hurt.

   • These tight shoes are killing my feet.
   • You don't ever want to get rabies. The doctor will have to give you multiple shots and they really kill.

6. (transitive, figuratively) To produce feelings of dissatisfaction or revulsion in.

   • It kills me to throw out three whole turkeys, but I can't get anyone to take them and they've already started to go bad.
   • It kills me to learn how many poor people are practically starving in this country while rich moguls spend such outrageous amounts on useless luxuries.

7. (transitive) To use up or to waste.

   • I'm just doing this to kill time.

8. (transitive, figuratively, informal) To overpower, overwhelm, or defeat.

   • Look at the amount of destruction to the enemy base. We pretty much killed their ability to retaliate.
   • The team had absolutely killed their traditional rivals, and the local sports bars were raucous with celebrations.

9. (transitive) To force a company out of business.

10. (figuratively, informal, hyperbolic, transitive) To punish severely.

    • My parents are going to kill me!

11. (transitive, sports) To strike (a ball, etc.) with such force and placement as to make a shot that is impossible to defend against, usually winning a point.

12. (transitive, sports) To cause (a ball, etc.) to be out of play, resulting in a stoppage of gameplay.

13. To succeed with an audience, especially in comedy.

14. (mathematics, transitive, informal) To cause to assume the value zero.