extinguish

Definition of extinguish

Etymology

< Latin extinguere, pp. extinctus ("to put out (what is burning), quench, extinguish, deprive of life, destory, abolish") < ex ("out") + stinguere ("to put out, quench, extinguish").

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪkˈstɪŋ.wɪʃ/, SAMPA: /Ik"stIN.gwiS/

Verb

to extinguish (third-person singular simple present extinguishes, present participle extinguishing, simple past and past participle extinguished)

1. (transitive) to put out, as in fire; to end burning; to quench
2. (transitive) to destroy or abolish something
   
   She extinguished all my hopes.
   
   
3. (transitive) to obscure or eclipse something
   
   The rays of the sun were extinguished by the thunder clouds.
   
   
4. (transitive, psychology) to bring about the extinction of a conditioned reflex
5. (transitive, literally) to hunt down (a species) to extinction

Synonyms

• put out, quench

Related terms

• extinct
• extinction
• extinguisher
• fire extinguisher