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massacrer

 - 2 dictionary results

mas⋅sa⋅cre

  [mas-uh-ker] noun, verb, -cred, -cring.
Use massacrer 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 massacrer
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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