exterminate

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪkˈstɝ.mɪ.neɪt/ UK /ɛkˈstəː.mɪ.neɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #13856

Meanings

1

verb
kill en masse

The word exterminate appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
2

verb
destroy completely, as if down to the roots

The word exterminate appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
3

verb
To kill or otherwise permanently eliminate all of (a population of pests or undesirables), usually intentionally.

We'll use poison to exterminate the rats.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · kill en masse kill off

2 verb · destroy completely, as if... extirpate

3 verb · to kill or otherwise... annihilate eradicateextermineuproot

Word family

Forms exterminated

Derived forms exterminatableexterminationexterminativeexterminatorexterminatoryexterminatrixexterminism

Related forms terminate terminationterminator

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin exterminātus, perfect passive participle of exterminō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“thoroughly”) + terminō (“to finish, close, end”), from terminus (“limit, end”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# exterminate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˈstɝ.mɪ.neɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɛkˈstəː.mɪ.neɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 13856

## Meanings
1. kill en masse
2. destroy completely, as if down to the roots
3. To kill or otherwise permanently eliminate all of (a population of pests or undesirables), usually intentionally.

## Examples
- The word exterminate appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
- The word exterminate appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
- We'll use poison to exterminate the rats.

## Derived Forms
- exterminatable
- extermination
- exterminative
- exterminator
- exterminatory
- exterminatrix
- exterminism

## Related Forms
- terminate
- termination
- terminator

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin exterminātus, perfect passive participle of exterminō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“thoroughly”) + terminō (“to finish, close, end”), from terminus (“limit, end”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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