noun
killing
An act of causing death.
Police investigate the killing of a man near the station.
Etymology
The action-noun ending names the act. A killing is an occurrence in which a living being is caused to die, regardless of the means used.
More examples
- The new law bans the killing of endangered animals.
- The witness links the suspect to two separate killings.
- She describes the killing as an act of self-defense.
Forms
killing · killings
kill verb — To cause a living thing to die.
Similar words
- murder
- Specifically means the unlawful, intentional killing of a person.
- homicide
- Specifically refers to one person causing another person's death.