killer1 nounkiller2 adjective
killerkill‧er1 /ˈkɪlə $ -ər/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dr Shipman is the biggest serial killer of all time.
- Police are searching for the killer of a 9 year old boy.
- Police are still searching for the killer.
- The judge described him as "a cold-blooded killer".
- The victim's best friend, Joanne, is convinced the killer is local.
- Tracy's schedule is a real killer.
- And the real killer is, in two weeks, they will probably give the Broncos a healthy workout.
- Brilliant detective work with a little luck tossed in to catch the savvy killer.
- But our instinctive need to fill the vacuum inspires us to the ultimate irony: We turn 12 average citizens into killers.
- Even serial killers get cost-of-living raises if they happen to have a pension adjusted for inflation.
- From Pennsylvania came details of a group murder, followed by the suicide of two of the killers.
- He'd been beaten about the head. 60 police officers are now searching for his killer.
- Meanwhile, a reward has been offered for information which might lead to the arrest of the killer of Arthur Brumhill.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone who kills another person
someone who has deliberately killed another person: · Do you think the police will ever catch her murderer?· A convicted murderer was on the run last night after escaping from Lewes prison.mass murderer (=someone who has murdered a lot of people): · In prison he enjoyed reading biographies of other mass murderers.
someone who deliberately kills someone else - used especially in newspapers: · The victim's best friend, Joanne, is convinced the killer is local.· The judge described him as "a cold-blooded killer".killer of: · Police are searching for the killer of a 9 year old boy.serial killer (=someone who has killed a number of people, one after the other): · Dr Shipman is the biggest serial killer of all time.
someone who kills a famous or important person, sometimes because someone else has paid them to do it: · Although the assassins were never caught, it is commonly believed that they were working for the government.· His assassins must have been aware of his security arrangements.
someone who is paid to kill people illegally: · The hitman used the top floor room of a hotel opposite the square.· The police believe the murder could be the work of a contract killer.
also psycho informal someone who has a mental illness that makes them kill people: · Dr Green said that, in his opinion, Perry was a dangerous psychopath who might kill again.
to cause death to cause someone's death - use this especially about accidents, diseases, or substances: · A car drove onto the pavement, killing three of Mrs Maguire's children.· The explosion killed 32 people.· The disease has already killed more than 2000 in Latin America.· Many people do not realize that these drugs are dangerous and can kill.be killed in a crash/accident etc: · James Dean was killed in a car crash in 1955.
to make someone die: · Rhubarb leaves, either raw or cooked, can cause violent stomach pains or even death.· Research is being done into the virus that caused the death of 15,000 seals last summer.· The injuries sustained by the victim were not sufficient to have caused death in a healthy person.
to cause the death of a group of plants or animals: kill off something: · It was the cold winter of 1992 that finally killed off the last of the roses.· Pollution in the lakes and streams has been killing off many species of fish.kill something off: · If you plant your seedlings out too soon, a late frost might kill them off.
to kill things, especially plants and trees, so that they can never start to grow again: · A vast amount of the Amazonian rainforest is being destroyed every day.· Milk is heat treated for a few seconds to destroy bacteria.
if an illness is a killer , it kills a lot of people, especially because there is no cure: · In those days measles was a major killer.· Diphtheria is still a killer in many developing countries.
to kill a complete group or race of people, or all of a type of animal or plant, so that it no longer exists: wipe out somebody/something: · The entire village was wiped out.· Archaeologists think that massive floods could have wiped out the dinosaurs.wipe somebody/something out: · The fur trade has wiped leopards out in some areas.
to kill large numbers of the people, animals, or plants in a particular place: · Cambodia's 21-year war decimated the wildlife population.· His prize herd of cows has been decimated by an unknown disease.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a cold-blooded killer a crazed killer
a cold-blooded killer a crazed killer (=an instinct to kill, harm or defeat someone)· The team needs to develop the killer instinct.
· a killer virus which has already been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Diseases of the circulatory system - including heart attacks - are Britain's biggest killer at 295,794 deaths last year.· In the tropics, for example, malaria is by far a bigger killer.· Drug overdoses have become the single biggest killer among the city's young people.· They are also, of course, the big killers.· But in terms of years of potential life lost, the biggest killer is lung cancer, which usually strikes in middle age.· Heart disease is now our biggest killer.· Cancer-related diseases are the next biggest killers.· Because the car is a bigger killer than violent crime.
· But of course our work will not end when we have broken the grip of the six major killer diseases.
· Even the first screen's a real killer to get through.· And the real killer is, in two weeks, they will probably give the Broncos a healthy workout.· The latter is a peaceful fish, whereas elongatus is a real killer.· Their real killer is out and about.· Your mission as you play Robot City: Find the real killer.· The mop-haired lads considered the flick a real career killer.
· There are a lot of courtroom drama books and serial killer tales about, but this one is special.· This morning I made you out to be a serial killer!· I discovered that it is true that a serial killer operated in the area.· She enlists the help of psychiatrist / author Sigourney Weaver, an expert on serial killers.· The imagination of Presley has been rendered uncomfortable by the presence of the serial killer known as Pitchfork Disney.· Recycling is the first step toward becoming a serial killer.· A jackboot serial killer on the loose, stomping down the humanist softies of soul?· An alleged serial killer whose parents loved him?
NOUN· Although a killer application still awaits discovery, proponents of on-line radio see some possible uses and benefits of the new technology.· Digital photography will be another killer application for homes and small businesses.
· Thus the myth of the killer bee was born.
· In this study, nude mice were used that do not possess mature T lymphocytes but do have natural killer cell activity.
· A known killer - a child killer at that - is still free.· Among the findings: About two-thirds of child killers victimized small children, with about 15 percent targeting newborns and infants.· Allitt admits child attacks Child killer Beverley Allitt has finally admitted she attacked nine children.· More than one-third of child killers took the life of their own brother or sister.· Lord Bingham will consider fresh representations from child killers and others who have not yet served their recommended minimum sentences.· Roughly half of child killers used a gun, while 16 percent used their own hands and feet as lethal weapons.
· But of course our work will not end when we have broken the grip of the six major killer diseases.· The extreme mechanistic approach that mainline medicine developed worked well for the great communicable killer diseases.· They will cost £1 each and the cash will be used in the fight against a killer disease.· Leprosy is not a killer disease.· Until recently it was one of the greatest of all killer diseases.· Please help yourself and others to combat this killer disease.
· On politics, it has none of the Washington Post's killer instincts.· Our firm nurtures the killer instinct.· A killer instinct required to spoil a tearful bon voyage party for a beloved figure.· The rest of the first-half saw Rangers produce several good moves, but the killer instinct was lacking.· This team is still trying to find a killer instinct.
· Soil: The favourite growing medium for waterlilies is heavy garden soil that has not been in contact with insecticides or weed killers.· Napalm poured into the villages while weed killers defoliated the countryside.· Use weed killers very selectively, for spot rather than general treatment.· For maximum effectiveness, weed killers and fertilizers should be applied now, says Glenn Hester, a Hidalgo County cotton farmer.· In a typical year, Valley cotton farmers would be in the fields now, applying weed killer and preparing the land.
· Nearby is Sea World, the home of sea lions, killer whales and other marine animals which perform before entranced audiences.· The killer whale was in motion, swimming slowly around the raft to take a closer look.· Species such as Risso's dolphin and false killer whales are killed in smaller numbers.· He starts to travel north, but suddenly a killer whale is on his tall.· The altered gene has also been found in mink, cattle-and a single killer whale.· As the ferry nears Vengsøya I talk to Tor about our chances of seeing an orca, a killer whale.· This range includes all dolphins, porpoises, narwhals, pilot and killer whales.· Blake's mathematical models predict that dolphins, killer whales and even some penguins can porpoise.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- Ex-Ornette Coleman sideman Ronald Shannon Jackson was on drums, occasionally adding creepy blues vocals worthy of a serial killer.
- Read the February issue of eve to find out, and discuss whether serial killers are born that way below.
- She enlists the help of psychiatrist / author Sigourney Weaver, an expert on serial killers.
- She escapes and later discovers that her attacker is a suspected serial killer.
- She is a serial killer who picks up men in the Métro.
- There are a lot of courtroom drama books and serial killer tales about, but this one is special.
WORD FAMILYnounkilloverkillkillerkillingadjectivekillerverbkill
1a person, animal, or thing that kills: Heart disease is America’s number one killer. the hunt for her killers weed killer → serial killer at serial2(1)2informal something or someone that is very difficult, tiring, or boring: The new project is a killer.3informal something that is very exciting or impressive: I’m not saying the film is a killer, but it’s cool.killer1 nounkiller2 adjective
killerkiller2 adjective [only before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Killer floods and hurricanes in Asia have destroyed whole towns.
- a killer cyclone
- A swarm of killer bees has attacked 70 children in a village in northern Mexico.
- If you guys like garlic, this pickled garlic is killer stuff.
- The concert was killer.
Longman Language Activatorable to kill you
a fatal accident, illness, or injury is one that causes death: · He suffered a fatal injury to the neck.fatal to: · A sudden shock could be fatal to anyone with a weak heart.
something that is lethal can cause death - use this especially about weapons or substances: · The poison produced by the frog's skin is so lethal that it can paralyze a bird or a monkey immediately.· A lethal cocktail of pollutants is being poured into Scotland's coastal waters, according to Greenpeace.lethal weapon: · Almost any sharp or pointed object can potentially be a lethal weapon.lethal to: · Most pesticides are lethal to earthworms on or near the surface.
something such as a disease or poison that is deadly can cause death: · In the First World War pneumonia was as deadly as bullets and shells.· Some mushrooms are edible while others, which look almost identical, contain deadly poisons.
a killer disease or thing could kill or has killed a lot of people - used especially in newspapers: · A swarm of killer bees has attacked 70 children in a village in northern Mexico.· Killer floods and hurricanes in Asia have destroyed whole towns.
a mortal injury, wound, or disease is one that causes death - used especially in literature: · He killed Leonardo and received a mortal wound himself.· He gathered all his strength to deliver his opponent the final mortal blow.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a cold-blooded killer a crazed killer
(=women’s shoes with very high heels)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a cold-blooded killer a crazed killer (=an instinct to kill, harm or defeat someone)· The team needs to develop the killer instinct.
· a killer virus which has already been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- A killer instinct required to spoil a tearful bon voyage party for a beloved figure.
- On politics, it has none of the Washington Post's killer instincts.
- Our firm nurtures the killer instinct.
- The rest of the first-half saw Rangers produce several good moves, but the killer instinct was lacking.
- This team is still trying to find a killer instinct.
- Ex-Ornette Coleman sideman Ronald Shannon Jackson was on drums, occasionally adding creepy blues vocals worthy of a serial killer.
- Read the February issue of eve to find out, and discuss whether serial killers are born that way below.
- She enlists the help of psychiatrist / author Sigourney Weaver, an expert on serial killers.
- She escapes and later discovers that her attacker is a suspected serial killer.
- She is a serial killer who picks up men in the Métro.
- There are a lot of courtroom drama books and serial killer tales about, but this one is special.
WORD FAMILYnounkilloverkillkillerkillingadjectivekillerverbkill
1very harmful or dangerous: a killer hurricane a swarm of killer bees2informal very attractive, good, impressive etc: a book called ‘How to Build a Killer Website’killer heels (=women’s shoes with very high heels)3killer instinct a very strong desire to succeed in a situation or activity etc that is very competitive: Young players these days lack the killer instinct.