好词典

massacre

UK //ˈmæsəkə(r)//US //ˈmæsəkər//

词源

源自中古法语'massacre',可能来自古法语'macecrer'(屠宰),最终源自拉丁语'macellare'(屠宰)。

noun

❶ 指对大量人群的残忍杀害,通常是无辜平民或手无寸铁的人,带有暴行和残酷的意味。

“The massacre of innocent civilians shocked the world.”

(对无辜平民的大屠杀震惊了世界。)

“Historians still debate the causes of the massacre.”

(历史学家仍在争论这场大屠杀的起因。)

同义词:slaughter, genocide, carnage, butchery, bloodbath

verb

❶ 指残忍地杀害大量人群,通常带有压倒性优势和不公平的意味。

“The invading army massacred the entire population.”

(入侵军队屠杀了全部居民。)

“Rebels were massacred by government forces.”

(叛军被政府军屠杀。)

同义词:slaughter, annihilate, exterminate, decimate, butcher

常见短语

massacre of the innocents — 特指圣经中希律王屠杀伯利恒婴儿的事件,现也用于比喻对无辜者的屠杀。

“The novel depicts a modern-day massacre of the innocents.”

(这部小说描写了一场现代版的屠杀无辜者事件。)