First Known Use: circa 1578
Dictionary
1massacre
noun mas·sa·cre \ˈma-si-kər\
: the violent killing of many people
: a game or competition in which one person or team easily defeats another
Full Definition of MASSACRE
1
: the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty
2
: a cruel or wanton murder
3
: a wholesale slaughter of animals
4
: an act of complete destruction <the author's massacre of traditional federalist presuppositions — R. G. McCloskey>
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Origin of MASSACRE
Middle French
2massacre
verb
: to violently kill (a group of people)
: to easily defeat (someone or something)
: to do (something) very badly : to ruin (something) because of lack of skill
mas·sa·credmas·sa·cring \-k(ə-)riŋ\
Full Definition of MASSACRE
transitive verb
1
: to kill by massacre
2
: mangle 2 <words were misspelled and syntax massacred — Bice Clemow>
— mas·sa·crer \-kər-ər, -krər\ noun
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First Known Use of MASSACRE
1581
Related to MASSACRE
- Synonyms
- butcher, mow (down), slaughter
MASSACRE Defined for Kids
1massacre
noun mas·sa·cre \ˈma-sə-kər\
Definition of MASSACRE for Kids
: the violent and cruel killing of a large number of people
2massacre
verb
mas·sa·credmas·sa·cring
Definition of MASSACRE for Kids
: to kill a large number of people in a violent and cruel manner
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