Webster's English Dictionary

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slaughter

1. slaugh.ter \'slo.t-*r\ n [ME, of Scand origin; akin to ON sla-tra to 
   slaughter; akin to OE s]leaht slaughter, sle-an to slay - more at SLAY 1: 
   the act of killing; specif : the butchering of livestock for mar ket 2: 
   destruction of human lives in battle : CARNAGE 
2. slaughter \-*r-*r\ vt 1: to kill (animals) for food : BUTCHER  2a: to 
   kill in a bloody or violent manner : SLAY  2b: to kill in large numbers : 
   MASSACRE  - slaugh.ter.er n