ENGLISH
REFERENCE

killing

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈkɪɫɪŋ// UK //kˈɪlɪŋ// killing
  1. 1 the act of causing death (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of ending a life, especially in a violent way.

    the act of causing death; an instance of a person or animal being killed.

    Example

    The police are investigating the killing of a local businessman last night.

    Example

    The documentary examines the mass killing of migratory birds caused by the sudden expansion of industrial wind farms in the region.
  2. 2 making a lot of money (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    a large and sudden profit from a business deal or investment.

    a sudden, large financial profit, often achieved through a single successful transaction or investment.

    Example

    They made a killing when they sold their house during the property boom.

    Example

    The hedge fund manager made a killing by shorting the market just before the economic downturn began.

    Usage

    Usually used in the phrase 'make a killing'.
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  1. 3 deadly or exhausting (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    something that is very tiring or likely to cause death.

    possessing the power to kill; figuratively used to describe something extremely exhausting or overwhelming.

    Example

    The heat in the desert was killing, and we had to stop every hour.

    Example

    The soldiers faced a killing frost that threatened to destroy their remaining supplies before the relief column could arrive.
  2. 4 very funny (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Humorous

    extremely funny, so you feel like you cannot stop laughing.

    extremely amusing or comical; causing uncontrollable laughter.

    Example

    The comedian's impression of the president was absolutely killing.

    Example

    The irony of the situation was simply killing, though few in the room were brave enough to laugh out loud.
  3. 5 causing death or pain (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    the -ing form of the verb 'kill', used for causing death or causing pain.

    the present participle of 'kill', used in continuous tenses to describe the act of ending life or causing intense discomfort.

    Example

    My feet are killing me after walking around the city all day.

    Example

    The report detailed how the invasive species was killing off the native plants at an alarming rate.
Origin

From Middle English kyllyng; equivalent to kill + -ing.

Idioms1 entry

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