Killing

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪlɪŋ

Origin

From kill + -ing.

Full definition of killing

Verb

1. Present participle of killThis work is killing me.

Adjective

1. That literally deprives of life; lethal, deadly, fatal.
2. Devastatingly attractive.
3. That makes one ‘die’ with laughter; very funny.
• 1978, Lawrence Durrell, Livia, Faber & Faber 1992 (Avignon Quintet), p. 471:Livia found her ‘killing’, and derived such amusement from her Martinique French that he was forced to enjoy her as well.

Noun

1. an instance of someone being killed
2. (informal) A large amount of money.He made a killing on the stock market.

Derived terms