slaughter — the killing of animals for food
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the killing of animals for food
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈslɔːtər/
Example Sentences
- The vegetarian couldn't bear to think about the slaughter of innocent animals.
- My cooking skills are such a slaughter that even the smoke detector cheers me on!
- The chess grandmaster's slaughter of his opponent was swift and merciless.
slaughter
NOUN[/ˈslɔːtər/]
the killing of animals for food
the killing of animals for food
The butcher's daughter washes with water after slaughter.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Slaughter derives from Old Norse 'slahtr', meaning 'to strike dead' or 'to kill'. Originally referring specifically to the killing of animals for meat, the term later broadened to encompass the violent killing of humans, particularly in mass contexts.
Breakdown
Old Norse 'slahtr' (to strike/kill) → Middle English 'slaughter'. The morpheme 'slahtr' combines the concept of striking force with killing, ultimately yielding the modern English noun and verb denoting violent animal or human killing.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The vegetarian couldn't bear to think about the slaughter of innocent animals.”
“My cooking skills are such a slaughter that even the smoke detector cheers me on!”
“The chess grandmaster's slaughter of his opponent was swift and merciless.”
“He went to the exam like a lamb to the slaughter, completely unprepared.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.