guillotine
/ˈɡɪlətiːn/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡˈɪlətˌin] /ˈɡɪlətiːn/ (ame, ipa) · [ɡˈijətˌin] /ˈgi-lə-ˌtēn How to pronounce guillotine (audio) ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn How to pronounce guillotine (audio) ˈgē-(y)ə-ˌtēn How to pronounce guillotine (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡɪl.ə.tiːn/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡˈɪlətˌin] /ˈɡɪl.ə.tiːn/ (ame, ipa)
guillotine — noun
- guillotinesingular
- guillotinesplural
1. an old execution machine in which a heavy blade is released from above to take o
an old execution machine in which a heavy blade is released from above to take off a person's head
The museum displayed a guillotine once used during the French Revolution.
historical machine of execution
Roya shuddered when the guide described how the guillotine worked.
In the film, the prison yard held a dark wooden guillotine.
Historians debate why the guillotine became a symbol of revolutionary terror.
- beheading machine
descriptive phrase, but less fixed and less historical than guillotine
文法句型
a guillotine
the guillotine
go to the guillotine
用法筆記
This sense refers to the historical execution machine, especially in writing about the French Revolution and earlier legal punishments. Use sense 2 for the modern cutting machine used in offices or workshops.
2. a large cutting machine with one long blade that comes down on paper, card, and
a large cutting machine with one long blade that comes down on paper, card, and similar flat materials
The print shop's guillotine sliced fifty invitation cards in one motion.
print-shop cutting machine
Meera kept her hands clear while the office guillotine cut the posters.
The guillotine left a straight edge across the thick card.
At school, the art teacher locked the paper guillotine after class.
- paper cutter
common everyday term for the same kind of office or craft machine
文法句型
a guillotine
paper guillotine
guillotine + cut
用法筆記
Use this sense for the large cutter found in print shops, classrooms, or workshops. It is not the same as ordinary scissors or a hand knife.
3. a rule in the British Parliament that ends debate on a bill at a set time and fo
a rule in the British Parliament that ends debate on a bill at a set time and forces a final vote
The government used the guillotine to rush the tax bill through Parliament.
British parliamentary procedure
Opposition MPs protested after a guillotine cut short the housing debate.
News reports said the guillotine would leave several amendments undiscussed.
By noon, the guillotine had guaranteed a vote on the measure.
- time allocation
formal parliamentary label for arranging or limiting debate time
文法句型
impose a guillotine
under the guillotine
the guillotine on a bill
用法筆記
This is a British parliamentary term, often used in news or political writing. It refers to limiting debate time, not to the physical machine in senses 1 and 2.
guillotine — verb
- guillotinepresent simple I / you / we / they
- guillotines3rd person singular
- guillotining-ing form
- guillotinedpast simple
1. to execute someone with a guillotine by dropping its blade onto their neck
to execute someone with a guillotine by dropping its blade onto their neck
The rebels threatened to guillotine anyone who helped the king.
guillotine + person
The court chose to guillotine the traitor at dawn.
The captured nobleman was guillotined in the city square.
Officials prepared to guillotine the spy before sunrise.
- behead
broader verb for cutting off a head, without specifying the machine
文法句型
guillotine + person
be guillotined
用法筆記
This verb is mostly used in historical writing, fiction, and political history. Passive forms such as 'was guillotined' are especially common.
2. to place a strict time limit on debate about a bill so Parliament must vote by a
to place a strict time limit on debate about a bill so Parliament must vote by a certain time
Ministers tried to guillotine the education bill before the weekend.
guillotine + bill
The cabinet refused to guillotine the measure despite party pressure.
Opposition MPs said the housing bill had been guillotined too early.
Parliament can guillotine a bill when ministers want a quick vote.
- time-limit
general verb for imposing an end point, but less specifically parliamentary
文法句型
guillotine + bill
guillotine + debate
bill + be guillotined
用法筆記
This verb belongs mainly to British parliamentary reporting. The object is usually a bill, a stage of debate, or the discussion around proposed changes.