Exterminate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /É›kˈstəː.mɪ.neɪt/, /ɪkˈstəː.mɪ.neɪt/
• US IPA: /ɪkˈstɝ.mɪ.neɪt/, /É›kˈstɝ.mɪ.neɪt/

Origin

From Latin exterminātus, perfect passive participle of exterminō, itself from ex- + terminō ("I finish, close, end") (from terminus ("limit, end")).

Full definition of exterminate

Verb

1. (transitive) To kill all of a population, usually deliberate and especially applied to pests.We'll use poison to exterminate the rats.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To bring a definite end to, finish completely. A rather strong word that implies that what has been ended won't resurface.Even a mass birching at the public school failed to exterminate truancy.

Synonyms

• (to kill all) annihilate, eradicate, extermine, uproot
• (to bring an end to) stamp out

Derived terms

• extermination
• exterminative
• exterminator
• exterminatory

Related terms

• terminate
• termination
• terminator