slaughter
/ˈslɔːtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslɔːtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈslȯ-tər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈslɔː.tər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslɑː.t̬ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
slaughter — noun
1. the process by which farm animals are killed so that their meat can be sold and
the process by which farm animals are killed so that their meat can be sold and eaten
The slaughter of pigs and cows takes place at a government-inspected facility outside the city.
slaughter + of + [animal]
New regulations require cleaner conditions at any facility where animal slaughter occurs.
Amir works at a slaughterhouse and oversees the slaughter of about two hundred sheep each week.
Animal rights groups have protested against the slaughter of horses for their meat in several countries.
Modern slaughter methods aim to keep the animals calm and cause them as little pain as possible.
- butchery
can refer to the same process but more often describes cutting up the meat after the animal is dead
用法筆記
Often used in compound nouns: slaughterhouse, slaughter method, slaughter rate. The more neutral term in the industry is 'harvesting' in some English varieties, but 'slaughter' remains the standard word in public discourse.
2. the brutal killing of huge numbers of people, most often during a war or when ar
the brutal killing of huge numbers of people, most often during a war or when armed groups attack unprotected communities
Journalists who entered the town discovered evidence of a slaughter that had taken place during the night.
The general faced trial for his role in the slaughter of unarmed villagers during the civil war.
slaughter + of + [victim group]
Historians believe the slaughter of 1944 claimed more than forty thousand lives in just one week.
Witnesses at the tribunal described the slaughter of civilians in the central square that morning.
A memorial now stands where the slaughter took place, bearing the names of those who died.
- massacre
emphasises the indiscriminate, shocking nature of the killing; often interchangeable with slaughter in war contexts
- carnage
focuses on the bloody aftermath and the scene of death rather than the act itself
- butchery
strongly negative; compares the killing to the work of a butcher, implying cruelty
- peace
the opposite state of affairs, where no killing occurs
- preservation
the act of keeping people safe rather than killing them
用法筆記
Frequently followed by of plus the group that was killed (the slaughter of civilians). Often appears in historical, journalistic, or legal contexts about war crimes.
常見錯誤
3. a sports match or competition where one side loses by an extremely large margin,
a sports match or competition where one side loses by an extremely large margin, making the game completely one-sided
The final score of 9–0 was the worst slaughter the home team had suffered all season.
Fans left the stadium early, unable to watch the slaughter of their national side on live television.
the slaughter of [team]
Saturday's match was a complete slaughter, with the visitors winning eleven goals to one.
The coach described the 45–6 defeat as an embarrassing slaughter that players had to learn from.
- close match
a game where the scores are very similar throughout
- nail-biter
an extremely close and exciting contest
用法筆記
Common in sports journalism and post-match commentary. May sound like an exaggeration in everyday conversation; rout or blowout are more neutral alternatives.
slaughter — verb
- slaughterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slaughters3rd person singular
- slaughtering-ing form
- slaughteredpast simple
1. to kill a farm animal so that its meat can be prepared, sold, and eaten by peopl
to kill a farm animal so that its meat can be prepared, sold, and eaten by people
The farmer slaughters about fifty pigs each month to supply the local butcher shop.
In many cultures, families traditionally slaughter a goat or a lamb for special celebrations.
slaughter + [animal] + for [occasion]
New farming laws require that all animals be slaughtered humanely to avoid unnecessary suffering.
Chickens raised for eggs are not usually slaughtered until their egg production drops significantly.
Tariq helped his uncle slaughter two sheep for the family gathering during the holiday.
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive constructions when describing slaughterhouses and industry practices (the animals are slaughtered). The agent is often omitted in formal descriptions of the process.
常見錯誤
2. to kill a great number of people violently and without mercy, especially during
to kill a great number of people violently and without mercy, especially during a war or conflict when the victims are defenceless
Rebel soldiers slaughtered more than two hundred villagers during a single night raid.
The invading army slaughtered everyone they found in the small farming community near the border.
Witnesses said the armed group slaughtered men, women, and children without showing any pity.
Historical records show that the empire slaughtered entire populations that refused to surrender.
The dictator's forces slaughtered thousands of political prisoners in secret underground facilities.
- massacre
more specific to the sudden, shocking killing of people who cannot defend themselves
- exterminate
suggests an attempt to completely wipe out a group; more clinical in tone
- butcher
strongly negative; compares humans to animals being killed for meat
用法筆記
Subject is usually a military force, armed group, or oppressive regime. Object refers to groups of unarmed or defenceless people. Not used for individual murder or judicial execution.
常見錯誤
3. to defeat an opposing player or team by an extremely wide margin in a game or co
to defeat an opposing player or team by an extremely wide margin in a game or competition, making the match completely one-sided
The defending champions slaughtered their opponents 52–7 in Saturday's quarter-final match.
Our school team slaughtered the visiting side by scoring twelve goals to none on home ground.
The top-ranked chess player slaughtered every challenger in the tournament without losing a single game.
Brazil slaughtered Italy 5–1 in a match that was effectively over within the first thirty minutes.
- thrash
common informal term for a one-sided defeat in sports; less violent imagery
- trounce
formal but widely used in journalism; conveys decisive victory without gore
- crush
emphasises overwhelming force; very common in both sports and competition contexts
- annihilate
strongest of the alternatives; suggests the opponent had no chance at all
- lose to
the opposite outcome
- narrowly beat
to win by a very small margin, the opposite of an easy victory
用法筆記
Strong, highly emphatic verb typical of sports journalism and live commentary. In everyday conversation it may sound exaggerated; crush, thrash, or trounce are more neutral alternatives.