Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

exterminate

ex.ter.mi.nate \ik-'st*r-m*-.na-t\ \-.st*r-m*-'na--sh*n\ 
   \-'st*r-m*-.na-t-*r\ vt [L exterminatus, pp. of exterminare, fr. ex- + 
   terminus] boundary - more at TERM : to get rid of completely : ANNIHILATE 
   an to effect the destruction or abolition of something. EXTERMINATE implies 
   complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals; EXTIRPATE 
   implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes of an idea or 
   doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation; ERADICATE 
   implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established 
   itself; UPROOT implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses 
   displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction - 
   ex.ter.mi.na.tion n SYN syn EXTERMINATE, EXTIRPATE, ERADICATE, UPROOT me