massacre
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the cruel killing of a large number of people, especially those who cannot defend themselves.
n.the indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of many people, typically involving victims who are unarmed or unable to resist.
Simple“The history book described a terrible massacre that took place during the war.”
In context“International observers called for an immediate investigation into the massacre of civilians in the occupied territory.”
UsageOften used with the definite article when referring to a specific historical event.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a situation where one team or person is beaten very badly in a game or competition.
n.an overwhelming or humiliating defeat in a sporting contest or competitive event.
Simple“The final score was 8-0, and the local newspapers called the game a massacre.”
In context“What was expected to be a close championship final turned into a complete massacre as the defending champions dominated every aspect of play.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to kill a lot of people in a violent and cruel way.
v.to kill a large number of people indiscriminately and with great brutality.
Simple“The soldiers were accused of massacring innocent villagers during the conflict.”
In context“The documentary explores the tragic events of the night when retreating forces massacred hundreds of protesters in the square.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to perform a piece of music or a play so badly that you ruin it.
v.to perform a creative work, such as a musical composition or dramatic script, with such incompetence that its quality is destroyed.
Simple“I tried to sing my favorite song at karaoke, but I completely massacred it.”
In context“The critics were merciless, claiming the amateur troupe had massacred the Shakespearean classic with their wooden acting and poor timing.”
Synonyms
1580, from Middle French massacre, from Old French macacre, marcacre, macecre, macecle (“slaughterhouse, butchery”), usually thought to be deverbal from Old French macecrer, macecler (“to slaughter”), though the noun seems to be attested somewhat earlier. It is also found in Medieval Latin mazacrium (“massacre, slaughter, killing”, also “the head of a newly killed stag”). Further origin disputed: * From Latin macellum (“butcher shop”). From Vulgar Latin matteuculāre, from *matteuca (cf. massue), from Late Latin mattea, mattia, from Latin mateola. From Middle Low German matskelen (“to massacre”) (compare German metzeln (“massacre”)), frequentative of matsken, matzgen (“to cut, hew”), from Proto-West Germanic maitan, from Proto-Germanic maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *mei- (“small”). Akin to Old High German meizan (“to cut”) among others. * Note also Arabic مَجْزَرَة (majzara), originally “spot where animals are slaughtered”, now also “massacre”, and in Maghrebi Arabic “slaughterhouse”. Derived from جَزَرَ (jazara, “to cut, slaughter”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.