noun
massacre
MAS-uh-kuh
noun
1
The brutal killing of a large number of people who could not effectively resist.
"Historians still debate the death toll from the massacre."
2
(informal) A very lopsided defeat in a game or contest.
"The final score was a total massacre for the home team."
verb
1
To kill a large number of people brutally and with little resistance.
"Soldiers massacred the villagers before retreating."
2
(informal) To defeat an opponent decisively, or perform something very badly.
"He massacred the song trying to sing it a cappella."
How to Use Massacre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mass killing, or (casually) a crushing defeat or a badly botched performance.
When to use it
The literal sense is grave; the "lopsided game/performance" sense is informal and should be used carefully given the word's weight.
Word Forms
massacred past tense, massacres plural, massacres singular
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Historians still debate the death toll from the _____.
Etymology
From Middle French massacre, likely from an Old French word for a slaughterhouse or butchery; ultimate origin disputed.