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murder

n. · v.
US //ˈmɝdɝ// UK //mˈɜːdɐ// mur·der
  1. 1 the crime of killing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Law

    the crime of intentionally killing a person.

    the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. Uncountable in its abstract legal sense, though countable when referring to specific instances.

    Example

    The police are investigating a murder that happened in the park last night.

    Example

    The prosecution struggled to prove premeditation, which is a necessary element for a first-degree murder conviction in this jurisdiction.
  2. 2 something very difficult (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    something that is very unpleasant or difficult to deal with.

    an experience or task that is extremely arduous, painful, or difficult to endure.

    Example

    Walking up those stairs with heavy bags was absolute murder on my knees.

    Example

    Commuting for three hours every day in this heat is absolute murder, and I am seriously considering moving closer to the office.
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  1. 3 a group of crows (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    the special name for a group of crows.

    the collective noun for a group of crows.

    Example

    A murder of crows gathered in the old oak tree at sunset.

    Example

    The poet used the image of a murder of crows circling the battlefield to create a sense of impending doom.
  2. 4 to kill someone (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Law

    to kill someone deliberately and illegally.

    to commit the crime of murder; to kill a human being with malice aforethought.

    Example

    He was sent to prison for life after he tried to murder the witness.

    Example

    The historical record suggests the king was murdered by his own guards, though no official charges were ever brought.
  3. 5 to perform badly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to perform a song or a piece of writing very badly.

    to spoil or ruin something, such as a piece of music or a language, through poor performance or pronunciation.

    Example

    I like singing, but I usually murder the high notes in that song.

    Example

    The amateur dramatic society absolutely murdered the Shakespearean dialogue, much to the disappointment of the local critics.
  4. 6 to want or eat greedily (v.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    to really want to eat or drink something right now.

    to consume something with great enthusiasm or to have a strong desire for something. Often used with 'could'.

    Example

    I am so thirsty I could murder a cold glass of water.

    Example

    After a long day of hiking in the rain, the entire group felt they could murder a hot meal and a warm bed.
Origin

From Middle English murder, murdre, mourdre, alteration of earlier murthre (“murder”) (see murther), from Old English morþor (“secret slaying, unlawful killing”) and Old English myrþra (“murder, homicide”), both from Proto-West Germanic morþr, from Proto-Germanic murþrą (“death, killing, murder”), from Proto-Indo-European mr̥tro- (“killing”), from Proto-Indo-European mer-, mor-, mr̥- (“to die”). Akin to Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌸𐍂 (maurþr, “murder”), Old High German mord (“murder”), Old Norse morð (“murder”), Old English myrþrian (“to murder”) and morþ. The -d- in the Middle English form may have been influenced in part by Anglo-Norman murdre, from Old French murdre, from Medieval Latin murdrum (whence the English doublet of murdrum), from Frankish morþr, murþr (“murder”), from the same Germanic root, though this may also have been wholly the result of internal development (compare burden, from burthen). (crows): Attested at least since 1475.

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