massacre: Meaning and Definition of

mas•sa•cre

Pronunciation: (mas'u-kur), [key]
— n., v., -cred, -cring.
—n.
  1. the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder.
  2. a general slaughter, as of persons or animals: the massacre of millions during the war.
  3. a crushing defeat, esp. in sports.
—v.t.
  1. to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, esp. a large number of persons.
  2. to defeat decisively, esp. in sports.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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