Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense guillotines, present participle guillotining, past tense, past participle guillotined
1. countable noun [oft byNOUN]
A guillotine is a device used to execute people, especially in France in the past. A sharp blade was raised up on a frame and dropped onto the person's neck.
One after the other Danton, Robespierre and the rest went to the guillotine.
2. verb [usually passive]
If someone is guillotined, they are killed with a guillotine.
One of her ancestors was guillotined during the French Revolution. [beVERB-ed]
3. countable noun
A guillotine is a device used for cutting paper.
guillotine in British English
noun (ˈɡɪləˌtiːn)
1. the guillotine
2.
a device for cutting or trimming sheet material, such as paper or sheet metal, consisting of a blade inclined at a small angle that descends onto the sheet
3.
a surgical instrument for removing tonsils, growths in the throat, etc
4. Also called: closure by compartment
(in Parliament, etc) a form of closure under which a bill is divided into compartments, groups of which must be completely dealt with each day
verb (ˌɡɪləˈtiːn)(transitive)
5.
to behead (a person) by guillotine
6.
(in Parliament, etc) to limit debate on (a bill, motion, etc) by the guillotine
Derived forms
guillotiner (ˌguilloˈtiner)
noun
Word origin
C18: from French, named after Joseph Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), French physician, who advocated its use in 1789
guillotine in American English
(ˈgɪləˌtin; ˈgiətin; for v., also ˌ gɪləˈtin; ˌ giəˈtin)
noun
1.
an instrument for beheading by means of a heavy blade dropped between two grooved uprights
2.
an instrument, working on a similar principle, as for cutting paper
3. British
a method of limiting Parliamentary debate on a bill by voting at previously fixed times on specific sections of it
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈguilloˈtined or ˈguilloˈtining
4.
to behead with a guillotine
Word origin
Fr, after J. I. Guillotin (1738-1814), Fr physician who advocated its use during the French Revolution in preferenceto less humane methods
guillotine in Mechanical Engineering
(gɪlətin)
Word forms: (regular plural) guillotines
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
A guillotine is a device for cutting paper, sheet metal, or other sheet materials. It consistsof a blade that is brought down onto the sheet.
After the fiberglass is removed from the mold the edges are trimmed with a guillotine.
A guillotine is useful for cutting stacks of paper.
A guillotine is a device for cutting paper, sheet metal, or other sheet materials. It consistsof a blade that is brought down onto the sheet.