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extinct

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Extinction Debate
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ex⋅tinct

[ik-stingkt]
–adjective
1. no longer in existence; that has ended or died out: an extinct species of fish.
2. no longer in use; obsolete: an extinct custom.
3. extinguished; quenched; not burning.
4. having ceased eruption; no longer active: an extinct volcano.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L ex(s)tinctus put out, quenched, ptp. of ex(s)tinguere to extinguish


1. defunct, gone, vanished. See dead. 2. archaic. 3. out.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Extinction Debate
Are Humans Responsible For Deciding Which Species Become Extinct?
www.ResponsibilityProject.com
ex·tinct   (ĭk-stĭngkt')   
adj.  
  1. No longer existing or living: an extinct species.

  2. No longer burning or active: an extinct volcano.

  3. No longer in use: an extinct custom. See Synonyms at dead.

  4. Law Lacking a claimant; void: an extinct title.


[Middle English, from Latin exstīnctus, past participle of exstinguere, to extinguish; see extinguish.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

extinct 
1432, from L. extinctus, pp. of extinguere (see extinguish). Originally of fires; the sense of "dying out" of a family, a hereditary title, or a species is first recorded in Eng. 1581.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·tinct
Pronunciation: ik-'sti[ng](k)t, 'ek-"
Function: adjective
: no longer existing : lacking living representatives<extinct prehistoric animals>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Science Dictionary
extinct   (ĭk-stĭngkt')  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Having no living members. Species become extinct for many reasons, including climate change, disease, destruction of habitat, local or worldwide natural disasters, and development into new species (speciation). The great majority of species that have ever lived—probably more than 99 percent—are now extinct.

  2. No longer active or burning, as an extinct volcano.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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