slaughtering
n. uncountablen. the act of killing animals for food, or the killing of many people in a violent way. It describes a very bloody and messy process.
n. the act of killing livestock for human consumption, or the brutal, large-scale killing of people. Often used metaphorically to describe a heavy defeat in sports or competition.
The slaughtering of the cattle takes place early in the morning.
Strict regulations govern the slaughtering of animals to ensure that the process remains as humane as possible.
The documentary provided a graphic account of the slaughtering that occurred during the civil war, forcing the international community to acknowledge the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
Often functions as a gerund noun; frequently followed by the preposition 'of'.