murder

1. 1

   An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.countable

   • Throwing that punch was a murder whether you meant for it to happen or not.
   • There have been ten unsolved murders this year alone.
2. 2

   An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.; The crime of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.uncountable

   • The defendant was charged with murder.
3. 3

   An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.; Short for felony murder, the act of committing or abetting a crime that results in the killing of a person, regardless of intent, even if the perpetrator did not directly kill the victim.abbreviationalt-ofuncountable

   • Both the arsonist and her partner were charged with murder, even though they had intended for it to be a victimless crime.
4. 4

   An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.; The act of killing any being in an immoral manner; (countable) an instance of this.uncountable

   • Meat is murder.
5. 5

   An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.; Synonym of murderer , a person who has unlawfully killed another.broadlycountablenonstandard

6. 6

   Something difficult or terrible to endure.figurativelyuncountable

   • I heard this class is murder.
   • This headache is murder.
7. 7

   Something remarkable or impressive.countabledatedfiguratively

   • Right quick another cat spoke up real loud, saying, “That’s murder man, really murder,” and his eyes were signifying too.
   • Altaira Morbius: [swimming in a pool] Come on in. Commander Adams: I didn't bring my bathing suit. Altaira Morbius: What's a bathing suit? Commander Adams: [quickly turning his back] Oh, murder!
8. 8

   A flock of crows or sometimes ravens.collectivecountable

   • A murder of crows dotted my backyard.
   • Every morning we woke up to the squawking of what seemed like a hundred murders in the trees above our campsite.

syn. homicide · manslaughter · assassination

1. 1

   To illegally kill (a person or persons) with intent, especially with predetermination

   • The woman found dead in her kitchen was murdered by her husband.
2. 2

   To kill violently.colloquialexcessive

   • My uncle’s dog murdered my cat.
3. 3

   To defeat decisively.colloquialexcessivefiguratively

   • Our team is going to murder them.
4. 4

   To kick someone's ass or chew someone out (used to express one’s anger at somebody).colloquialexcessivefiguratively

   • He's torn my best shirt. When I see him, I'll murder him!
5. 5

   To botch or mangle.

   • Dr. Caius, the Frenchman in the play, and Evans the Welshman, "Gallia et Guallia," succeed pretty well in their efforts to murder the language.
6. 6

   To devour, ravish.UKcolloquialfiguratively

   • I could murder a hamburger right now.

syn. assassinate · kill · massacre · slaughter · remove