murder
Law. the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder, ormurder one ), and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder, ormurder two ).
Slang. something extremely difficult or perilous: That final exam was murder!
a group or flock of crows.
Law. to kill by an act constituting murder.
to kill or slaughter inhumanly or barbarously.
to spoil or mar by bad performance, representation, pronunciation, etc.: The tenor murdered the aria.
to commit murder.
Idioms about murder
get away with murder, Informal. to engage in a deplorable activity without incurring harm or punishment: The new baby-sitter lets the kids get away with murder.
murder will out, a secret will eventually be exposed.
yell / scream bloody murder,
to scream loudly in pain, fear, etc.
to protest loudly and angrily: If I don't get a good raise I'm going to yell bloody murder.
Origin of murder
1synonym study For murder
Other words from murder
- self-murder, noun
- self-murdered, adjective
Words that may be confused with murder
- 1. homicide, manslaughter, murder
- 2. execute, kill1, murder (see synonym study at kill1)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for murder
/ (ˈmɜːdə) /
the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another: Compare manslaughter, homicide
informal something dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant: driving around London is murder
cry blue murder informal to make an outcry
get away with murder informal to escape censure; do as one pleases
(also intr) to kill (someone) unlawfully with premeditation or during the commission of a crime
to kill brutally
informal to destroy; ruin: he murdered her chances of happiness
informal to defeat completely; beat decisively: the home team murdered their opponents
Origin of murder
1- Also (archaic or dialect): murther
Derived forms of murder
- murderer, noun
- murderess, fem n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with murder
In addition to the idiom beginning with murder
- murder will out
also see:
- get away with (murder)
- scream bloody murder
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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