noun
murder
MUR-duh
noun
1
The crime of deliberately killing another person.
"He was arrested and charged with murder."
"The murder shocked the small town."
2
The collective noun for a group of crows.
"A murder of crows gathered noisily in the bare trees."
verb
1
To deliberately and unlawfully kill someone.
"The suspect is accused of murdering his business partner."
"She murdered him in cold blood over a debt."
2
To do something very badly, or to defeat someone completely (informal).
"He absolutely murdered that karaoke song."
"Our team murdered them in the final, 6-0."
How to Use Murder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe unlawful, intentional killing of a person — the most serious form of homicide.
Common mistake
Murder specifically implies intent; manslaughter is used for unlawful killing without that same premeditation.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
commit murder
charged with murder
murder weapon
murder investigation
Word Forms
murdered past tense, murders plural, Murders plural, murders singular
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Etymology
From Old English morþor ("secret killing"), from a Germanic root meaning "death, killing," related to Old Norse morð and German Mord.