killingkill‧ing /ˈkɪlɪŋ/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
a series of gangland killings They murdered fifteen boys in a killing spree (=an occasion when someone murders many people in a short period of time) across southern California.2make a killing informal to make a lot of money in a short time: He made a killing on the stock exchange.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a gang-related killing
- A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the killing.
- Perry said Taylor approached him and asked him to carry out a contract killing on Johnson.
- The defendant claimed that he was only avenging the killing of his brother.
Longman Language Activatorthe act or crime of killing someone
the act or crime of deliberately killing someone: · New York paid tribute to the thousands of innocent people murdered on September 11th.· a series of brutal murders· The incidence of violent crimes -- murder, rape, and assault -- has increased in inner city areas.murder of: · Ronny Jones was found guilty of the murder of a 15 year old girl.commit murder (=to murder someone): · The gun was found five miles from where the murder was committed.attempted murder (=the crime of unsuccessfully trying to kill someone): · He was charged with attempted murder and found guilty.murder victim: · The murder victim has not yet been identified.
the crime of killing someone, especially deliberately - used especially in American legal contexts: · 70 per cent of homicides take place within the family.· As yet no evidence has been found to suggest that this death was homicide.homicide case/charge/detective: · A newspaper article criticized his handling of a homicide case
the crime of killing someone by accident, or while you are trying to defend yourself: · She denied murdering her husband, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.· The court decided there was insufficient evidence for a manslaughter charge.manslaughter of: · The driver of the train was charged with the manslaughter of 13 people.
when someone is deliberately killed - used especially in news reports: · A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the killing.killing of: · The defendant claimed that he was only avenging the killing of his brother.contract killing (=when someone has been paid to kill someone else): · Perry said Taylor approached him and asked him to carry out a contract killing on Johnson.
when someone deliberately kills a famous or important person, especially for political reasons: · Three foreign diplomats have been killed in a series of assassinations.assassination of: · The assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo led to the First World War.· Flowers were laid to commemorate the anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon.
formal if the police think that foul play is involved in a person's death, they think that the person has been murdered: · There was no question of foul play - a suicide note was found near the body.· The medical report showed no signs of poison in the body but the police still suspect foul play.
to get a profit to get a profit, especially from business deals: make £1 million/$10,000 etc: · British Telecom made over $3 billion last year.make money: · The restaurant makes a lot of money in the summer.make money doing something: · You could make a lot of money selling your photographs, they're excellent.make millions/make a fortune: · Mandon, our richest cousin, had made a fortune in the cable TV business.make out of: · The entrepreneur boasted that he could make money out of anything, even pebbles in the beach.
to get a profit from a business or from selling something: · Harry made a good profit - he bought the house for £45,000 and sold it for £55,000 six months later.· When you consider how much this meal would cost to prepare at home, you realize that the restaurant must be making an enormous profit.make a profit of $53m/£600 etc: · The drug company Sasco made a profit of $53 million last year.make a profit on: · Even though the price has been reduced, the builders will still make a profit on the sale.
to make a profit from business or from putting money in a bank, lending it to a company etc: · The Washington Post Company earned $187 million in 1987.· Our finances look better if we include the profit earned on the sale of our London offices.· She decided to put the money in a high-earning investment account.
informal to get a very large profit quickly from one successful business deal: · He had made a killing on the stock exchange that morning.· Vito's a debonair middle-aged New Yorker, who's made a killing in advertising.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They murdered fifteen boys in a killing spree (=an occasion when someone murders many people in a short period of time) across southern California.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me (=I feel very excited or anxious because I do not know what will happen next).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
They murdered fifteen boys in a killing spree (=an occasion when someone murders many people in a short period of time) across southern California. informal (=my feet are hurting)
terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing· I needed a pain-killing injection in my elbow.
· Her death was followed by a series of revenge killings.
Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me (=I feel very excited or anxious because I do not know what will happen next).· That seems to favour mass killing of all who are liable to feel pain at all.
· Despite the reports of political violence and killing, there has been plenty of genuine electioneering.· During the year there were over 20 political killings by left- and right-wing groups.· True, there are fewer political killings these days, even in KwaZulu-Natal, than during the turbulent pre-election months.
· Government agents were suspected, but it was also realised that a freelance group could have been responsible for the killings.
· The jury today returned a verdict of unlawful killing.· There was insufficient evidence for a verdict of unlawful killing or suicide.· Verdict: Death by misadventure on Swales and unlawful killing on the two girls.
NOUN· Frankly, it would have been a mercy killing.· So this would almost be a mercy killing.· Among those receiving probation orders will be those for whom the section 2 defence is used to mitigate a mercy killing.
· If the population declines, then so does the level of revenge killings and warfare.· But some of the violence can be put down to attempts at extortion or revenge killings.
VERB· Blancke is to fight the murder charge, claiming the killing was not premeditated.
· Equally, a crude general rule condemning all acts of killing is preferable to any other possible rule.
· The cause of death was a shotgun blast at close range, and police are now investigating the illegal killing.· Most cases have never been investigated and extrajudicial killings have continued with impunity.· A parliamentary commission was appointed on April 18 to investigate the Shkodër killings.
· The police have charged the parents with murder and also arrested nine more people who had been involved in the killings.· The horns have also been sought after as dagger handles by rich Arabs and this involves the killing of the animals.
· The court heard a harrowing 999 tape of the boy, then 10, as he tried in vain to stop the killing.· He must not create the impression that recognition will stop the killing.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a gangland killing/murder/shooting etc
- Alexander recalled making a killing in the stock market in the '80s.
- He had made a killing on the stock exchange that morning.
- Vito's a debonair middle-aged New Yorker, who's made a killing in advertising.
- After making a killing on other Trump casino bonds, he sold them recently.
- Boy, if you only knew what corporate insiders knew, you could make a killing on a stock, right?
- But an on-the-ball whisky shop could make a killing with its special EC-label malt Scotch at £27.70 a bottle.
- Buy speculative stuff and you can make a killing or get killed, depending which way the wind blows.
- Not strongly enough to kill me for that, but certainly strongly enough to make killing me satisfying in that respect also.
- They're a safe investment, but in love you can make a killing overnight.
- They should make a killing today.
- A family of illegal aliens is peppered with shotgun pellets in a drive-by shooting.
- A second drive-by shooting March 19 was linked to another gang.
- All we get is this stereotyping of violence that I believe leads to drive-by shootings.
- As far as we know, nobody ever pulled a drive-by shooting from a golf cart.
- G., was killed March 9 in a Los Angeles drive-by shooting.
- One person died in a drive-by shooting and several were injured.
- The last attack was a drive-by shooting about 3 a. m. June 1.
- Your son was killed in a drive-by shooting.
- But the news of serial killings last year led to near mass hysteria.
- They're the devil, these serial murders.
- What about fingerprints, copycat crimes and serial murders?
WORD FAMILYnounkilloverkillkillerkillingadjectivekillerverbkill
1the act of killing someone deliberately SYN murder: a series of gangland killings They murdered fifteen boys in a killing spree (=an occasion when someone murders many people in a short period of time) across southern California.2make a killing informal to make a lot of money in a short time: He made a killing on the stock exchange.