# killed

/ˈkɪɫd/ (US) · /kˈɪld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/killed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. ended a life

verb · CEFR A2

caused the death of a person, animal, or plant.

For teachers: caused the death of a living organism. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The cold weather killed all the flowers in the garden last night.
- The sudden frost killed the delicate seedlings before they had a chance to establish a robust root system.

### 2. stopped or turned off

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

stopped a process, a machine, or a light.

For teachers: terminated a process, electrical circuit, or mechanical operation. Often used in technical or informal contexts.

- He killed the engine and sat in the quiet car for a moment.
- The technician killed the power to the entire wing to prevent the electrical fire from spreading through the ventilation shafts.

### 3. inactivated

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a virus or bacteria that has been made safe for use in a vaccine.

For teachers: referring to a pathogen that has been rendered non-infectious, typically for use in immunisations.

- The doctor explained that the vaccine uses a killed virus to protect you.
- The research team opted for a killed vaccine approach to ensure the highest safety profile for immunocompromised patients during the trial.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 4. deoxidized steel

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describes metal that has had gas removed from it during the making process.

For teachers: referring to steel that has been completely deoxidized by the addition of an agent such as aluminium or silicon before casting.

- The construction project required high-quality killed steel for the main beams.
- Killed steel is preferred for critical structural components because it lacks the porosity often found in rimmed or semi-killed alternatives.

## Examples

- The cold weather killed the flowers in the garden.
- The doctor explained that the antibiotic treatment is designed to kill the harmful bacteria causing the infection.
- While the primary goal of the therapy was to kill the malignant cells, the medical team also had to monitor the patient for signs of systemic toxicity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.