murder: Meaning and Definition of

mur•der

Pronunciation: (mûr'dur), [key]
— n.
  1. the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arsonand murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation
  2. something extremely difficult or perilous: That final exam was murder!
  3. to engage in a deplorable activity without incurring harm or punishment: The new baby-sitter lets the kids get away with murder.
  4. a secret will eventually be exposed.
  5. or If I don't get a good raise I'm going to yell bloody murder.
    1. to scream loudly in pain, fear, etc.
    2. to protest loudly and angrily:If I don't get a good raise I'm going to yell bloody murder.
—v.t.
  1. to kill by an act constituting murder.
  2. to kill or slaughter inhumanly or barbarously.
  3. to spoil or mar by bad performance, representation, pronunciation, etc.: The tenor murdered the aria.
—v.i.
  1. to commit murder.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: