kills

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of kill.

   A single bite from this snake kills within minutes.

   The new pesticide kills aphids without harming bees.

   Note

   The -s form carries every use of the verb, literal and figurative alike. Besides the deadly sense, it serves for switching things off (she kills the engine) and for putting an end to something (the committee kills the bill). In speech it also exaggerates: "it kills me" can signal either helpless amusement or real distress, so only context tells you which.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of kill.

   Hunters recorded their kills in a worn leather journal.

   The eagle's kills were scattered across the rocky ledge.

   Note

   One spelling gathers several quite different plurals. A hunter's or predator's kills are the animals it has brought down. A gunner's kills are entries on a tally of enemy personnel or vehicles destroyed. On a court, kills are rally-winning shots grounded on the opponent's side. In New York usage, kills can also be creeks or channels of water, a meaning with nothing to do with death.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2