terminate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To end something, especially when left in an incomplete state.

   to terminate a process before its completion

2. 2
   verb

   To set or be a limit or boundary to.

   to terminate a surface by a line

3. 3
   verb

   To form an appropriate end on (a wire, cable, hose, pipe, etc), such as by applying a cable terminal or a hose ferrule.

   We'll rough them all in before we start terminating any of them.

4. 4
   verb

   To kill someone or something.

   The enemy must be terminated by any means possible.

5. 5
   verb

   To end, conclude, or cease; to come to an end.

   She unlocked the casket which contained her mother's picture, and gazed even more earnestly than usual on that beautiful face; its frank, glad smile was too painful; it seemed an omen of all that could make a joyous and beloved existence; and yet how had her's terminated!

6. 6
   verb

   Of a mode of transport, to end its journey; or, of a railway line, to reach its terminus.

   This train terminates at the next station.

7. 7
   adj

   Having a definite and clear limit or boundary; having a determinate size, shape or magnitude.

   Mountains on the Moon cast shadows that are very dark, terminate and more distinct than those cast by mountains on the Earth.

8. 8
   adj

   Expressible in a finite number of terms; (of a decimal) not recurring or infinite.

   One third is a recurring decimal, but one half is a terminate decimal.

Etymology

From Middle English terminaten (“to bring to an end; to adjudicate; to end, stop; to border, confine, contain”) from terminat(e) (“bounded”, also used as the past participle of terminaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin terminātus, perfect passive participle of terminō (“to set bounds to, bound, limit, end, close, terminate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from terminus (“a bound, limit, end”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix); see term, terminus. Doublet of termine, cognate with French terminer.