The word "exterminate" is spelled with the letter combination "ex-" which represents the sound /ɛks/. The letter "t" represents the sound /t/ and the letter "er" represents the sound /ɚ/. The letter "m" represents the sound /m/ and the letter "in" represents the sound /ɪn/. Finally, the suffix "-ate" represents the sound /eɪt/. So overall, the IPA phonetic transcription of "exterminate" is /ɪkˈstɜrmɪneɪt/. This word refers to completely destroying or getting rid of something or someone.
The term "exterminate" is a verb that refers to the act of completely eradicating, eliminating, or destroying something, typically with the aim of removing it permanently or wiping it out entirely. It is often used to describe the deliberate and thorough extermination of pests, vermin, or unwanted organisms, such as insects, rodents, or infectious diseases.
When applied to the context of living beings, "exterminate" implies the intentional and often systematic elimination of an entire population or species, leading to their annihilation or extinction. This word is frequently employed when discussing acts of mass killing or genocide, where humans seek to wipe out or annihilate another group based on various factors like ethnicity, religion, or nationality.
The term "exterminate" also appears in the realm of science fiction, particularly when describing the eradication of hostile extraterrestrial life forms, often depicted in movies or literature. The concept entails the complete elimination of these beings, essentially ensuring their total destruction and removal from existence.
Overall, "exterminate" denotes the intentional and determined act of annihilating, eradicating, or wiping something out fully, often with permanent consequences. It carries a sense of finality, conveying the idea of complete and thorough removal or destruction.
To destroy utterly; to root out; to eradicate.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "exterminate" originated from the Latin word "exterminare", which is a combination of "ex" meaning "out of" or "away from", and "terminus" meaning "boundary" or "limit". The literal translation of "exterminare" is "to drive beyond the boundary" or "to drive out". Over time, the meaning of "exterminate" evolved to refer specifically to the act of completely destroying, eradicating, or killing something, often in reference to pests or undesirable organisms.