extinguishing Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning
   quenching; extinction.
   
   • the extinction of the lights
2. verb put an end to; kill
   snuff out; extinguish.
   
   • The Nazis snuffed out the life of many Jewish children
3. verb put out, as of fires, flames, or lights
   snuff out; blow out; extinguish; quench.
   
   • Too big to be extinguished at once, the forest fires at best could be contained
   • quench the flames
   • snuff out the candles
4. verb extinguish by crushing
   stub out; extinguish; crush out; press out.
   
   • stub out your cigar
5. verb terminate, end, or take out
   extinguish; eliminate; get rid of; do away with.
   
   • Let's eliminate the course on Akkadian hieroglyphics
   • Socialism extinguished these archaic customs
   • eliminate my debts
6. verb kill in large numbers
   annihilate; carry off; decimate; eliminate; wipe out; extinguish; eradicate.
   
   • the plague wiped out an entire population

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