massacre

Everyday

1. A massacre is the cruel killing of many people who cannot defend themselves. tree →
2. To massacre people is to kill many of them in this way. tree →
3. (informal) In sport and games a massacre is a very heavy defeat: «It was a massacre: ten–nil!» tree →
4. (informal) To massacre a song or a language means to perform it very badly. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons and news it is a very serious word for terrible events that people remember and mourn. In everyday sport talk it is an exaggeration. Phrases: «a terrible massacre», «remember the massacre», «it was a massacre».

Examples

• The massacre is remembered every year with a minute of silence. tree →
• History books tell of massacres in many wars. tree →
• Soldiers massacred the people of the village. tree →
• Our team lost twelve–nil; it was a massacre. tree →
• (informal) Dad massacred that song at karaoke. tree →
• We learned how survivors told the story of the massacre. tree →
• Memorials help people remember victims of massacres. tree →
• (informal) Sorry, I massacred the French pronunciation. tree →
• It is no part of ours to describe what was a massacre rather than a fight. tree →

Note

Say «MASS-uh-ker». Spelling: -cre, like «acre». Past: massacred. Be careful: the joking sport sense should not be used near people who have lost family in real massacres.