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massacre

 - 3 dictionary results

mas⋅sa⋅cre

  [mas-uh-ker] noun, verb, -cred, -cring.
Use massacre in a Sentence
–noun
1. the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder.
2. a general slaughter, as of persons or animals: the massacre of millions during the war.
3. Informal. a crushing defeat, esp. in sports.
–verb (used with object)
4. to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, esp. a large number of persons.
5. Informal. to defeat decisively, esp. in sports.
Origin:
1575–85; (n.) < MF massacre, n. deriv. of massacrer, OF maçacrer, macecler, prob. < VL *matteūcculāre, v. deriv. of *matteūca mallet (see mashie, mace 1 ); (v.) < MF massacrer

Related forms:
mas⋅sa⋅crer  [mas-uh-krer] , noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. carnage, extermination, butchery, genocide. 4. slay. See slaughter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To massacre
mas·sa·cre   (mās'ə-kər)   
n.  

  1. The act or an instance of killing a large number of humans indiscriminately and cruelly.

  2. The slaughter of a large number of animals.

  3. Informal A severe defeat, as in a sports event.

tr.v.   mas·sa·cred (-kərd), mas·sa·cring (-krĭng, -kər-ĭng), mas·sa·cres

  1. To kill indiscriminately and wantonly; slaughter.

  2. Informal To defeat decisively.

  3. Informal To botch; bungle: massacred the French language trying to order dinner.


[French, from Old French macecle, macecre, butchery, shambles.]
mas'sa·crer (-kər-ər, -krər) n.
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

massacre  (v.)
1581, from M.Fr. massacre "wholesale slaughter, carnage," from O.Fr. macacre, macecle "slaughterhouse, butchery," perhaps from L. macellum "provisions store, butcher shop." The noun is attested from 1586.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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