killer

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English killer, kyller. By surface analysis, kill +‎ -er. === Pronunciation === (non-rhotic) (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɪlə/, [ˈkʰɪlə] (rhotic) (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɪlɚ/, [ˈkʰɪlɚ] ~ [ˈkʰɪlɹ̩] Rhymes: -ɪlə(ɹ) Hyphenation: kill‧er === Noun === killer (countable and uncountable, plural killers) One who or that which kills. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:killer (figuratively) That which causes stress or is extremely difficult, especially that which may cause failure at a task. (figuratively) Something that is so far ahead of its competition that it effectively kills off that competition. (archaic or by ellipsis) The killer whale. (figuratively) A remarkably impressive person or thing. (sports, uncountable) A knockout form of darts or pool involving several players. A club used for killing fish. (philately) A particularly heavy type of handstamp, or portion of one, often obscuring a large part of the postage stamp. Synonym of virama (“kind of diacritical mark”). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → German: Killer → Italian: killer → Japanese: キラー (kirā) → Russian: ки́ллер (kíller) ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === killer (comparative more killer, superlative most killer) (slang) Excellent, very good, cool. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:excellent Causing death, destruction, or obliteration. Distressing, uncomfortable. ==== Usage notes ==== In the sense of causing death or distress, killer is usually used attributively. ==== Derived terms ==== killer app killer cancel killer whale ==== Translations ==== === See also === anusvara candrabindu sukun visarga === Anagrams === rekill == Chinese == === Etymology === From English killer. === Pronunciation === === Noun === killer (Hong Kong Cantonese, university slang) professor who is known for often giving students failing grades (Hong Kong Cantonese) Mafia (party game) ==== Synonyms ==== (Mafia): 狼人殺／狼人杀 (lángrénshā) == Dutch == === Pronunciation === === Adjective === killer comparative degree of kil == Italian == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English killer. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkil.lɛr/ === Noun === killer m (invariable) hitman (hired assassin) Synonym: sicario (chiefly journalistic) murderer, assassin Synonyms: assassino, omicida clipping of serial killer (“serial killer”) il killer delle ballerine ― the serial killer of the (female) dancers ==== Derived terms ==== killeraggio killerare === Further reading === killer in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana == Luxembourgish == === Adjective === killer feminine dative of kill