Definition of massacre

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< Massachusetts Bay

massage >

mas·sa·cre    (ms-kr) KEY  

NOUN:

1. The act or an instance of killing a large number of humans indiscriminately and cruelly.
2. The slaughter of a large number of animals.
3. Informal A severe defeat, as in a sports event.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
mas·sa·cred   (-krd) KEY  , mas·sa·cring   (-krng, -kr-ng) KEY  , mas·sa·cres

1. To kill indiscriminately and wantonly; slaughter.
2. Informal To defeat decisively.
3. Informal To botch; bungle: massacred the French language trying to order dinner.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French, from Old French macecle, macecre, butchery, shambles

OTHER FORMS:
massa·crer   (-kr-r, -krr) KEY  (Noun)

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