killing
killing Lexical Profile
killing Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An act of causing death, especially deliberately or unlawfully.
"The historical documentary examined the political aftermath of the royal killing."
Informally, a sudden, substantial financial profit or windfall (especially in the phrase 'make a killing').
"Early investors made a killing when the technology startup went public."
• adjective
Causing death; fatal or lethal.
"An unexpected late-spring frost delivered a killing blow to the tender orchard blossoms."
Extremely exhausting, taxing, or overwhelming in intensity or pace.
"The marathon runners maintained a killing pace through the steep mountain pass."
Informally, irresistibly funny or comical.
"The comedian's deadpan delivery and killing impressions had the entire audience in stitches."
• Rhymes for killing
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English as the verbal noun and present participle of 'killen' (to strike, beat, or put to death), possibly derived from an unrecorded Old English cognate related to 'cwellan' (to quell or slay).