killer

[kil-er] /ˈkɪl ər/
noun
1.
a person or thing that kills.
2.
killer whale.
3.
a device used by a post office for printing cancellations on postage stamps.
4.
a mark of cancellation made on a postage stamp.
5.
Slang. something or someone having a formidable impact, devastating effect, etc.:
The math test was a real killer.
adjective, Slang.
6.
severe; powerful:
a killer cold.
7.
very difficult or demanding:
a killer chess tournament.
8.
highly effective; superior:
a killer recipe for fried chicken.
Origin
1525-35; kill1 + -er1
Related forms
self-killer, noun
Examples from the web for killer
  • Some authors have argued that he was the serial killer known as jack the ripper.
  • Every member of both gangs was always a potential killer even then.
  • Kitten is the spoiled daughter of killer moth and the girlfriend of the mutant fang.
  • Labelling himself a rapist and now a killer, jack once again began pushing jennifer away.
  • Chevron specifically marketed it as an ant killer, under the ortho name.
British Dictionary definitions for killer

killer

/ˈkɪlə/
noun
1.
  1. a person or animal that kills, esp habitually
  2. (as modifier): a killer shark
2.
something, esp a task or activity, that is particularly taxing or exhausting
3.
(Austral & NZ) an animal selected to be slaughtered for food
Word Origin and History for killer
n.

late 15c., agent noun from kill (v.). But a surname, Ric[hard] Le Kyller is attested from 1288. Figurative use from 1550s. Meaning "impressive person or thing" is by 1900 (as an adjective, 1979); reduplicated form killer-diller attested by 1938. Killer whale is from 1725; killer instinct is attested from 1931, originally in boxing.

Slang definitions & phrases for killer

killer

adjective

(also killer-diller): not only was it a killer version/ The killer idea of the century is about to be laid on you (1970s+)

noun
  1. A very attractive person: Ain't she a killer? (1937+)
  2. also killer-diller) A person or thing that is remarkable, wonderful, superior, etc; beaut, doozie: The song's a killer!/ The famed quartet steams out ''killer-dillers'' (1930s+)
  3. A marijuana cigarette; joint (1940s+ Narcotics)
Related Terms

lady-killer