exterminate

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English

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Etymology

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From Latin exterminātus, perfect passive participle of exterminō, itself from ex- + terminō (I finish, close, end) (from terminus (limit, end)).

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɛkˈstəː.mɪ.neɪt/, /ɪkˈstəː.mɪ.neɪt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɪkˈstɝ.mɪ.neɪt/, /ɛkˈstɝ.mɪ.neɪt/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

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exterminate (third-person singular simple present exterminates, present participle exterminating, simple past and past participle exterminated)

  1. (transitive) To kill all of (a population of pests or undesirables), usually intentionally.
    We'll use poison to exterminate the rats.
    • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Geth Codex entry:
      The geth are a humanoid race of networked A.I.s. They were created by the quarians 300 years ago as tools of labor and war. When the geth showed signs of self-evolution, the quarians attempted to exterminate them. The geth won the resulting war. This example has led to legal, systematic repression of artificial intelligences in galactic society.
  2. (figuratively, transitive) To bring a definite end to; finish completely.
    The public school failed to exterminate truancy.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Latin

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Verb

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extermināte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of exterminō

Spanish

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Verb

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exterminate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of exterminar combined with te