Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Kill \Kill\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Killed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Killing}.] [OE. killen, kellen, cullen, to kill, strike;
   perh. the same word as cwellen, quellen, to kill (cf.
   {Quell}), or perh. rather akin to Icel. kolla to hit in the
   head, harm, kollr top, summit, head, Sw. kulle, D. kollen to
   kill with the ax.]
   1. To deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or
      by any means; to render inanimate; to put to death; to
      slay.

            Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words !
                                                  --Shak.

   2. To destroy; to ruin; as, to kill one's chances; to kill
      the sale of a book. ``To kill thine honor.'' --Shak.

            Her lively color kill'd with deadly cares. --Shak.

   3. To cause to cease; to quell; to calm; to still; as, in
      seamen's language, a shower of rain kills the wind.

            Be comforted, good madam; the great rage, You see,
            is killed in him.                     --Shak.

   4. To destroy the effect of; to counteract; to neutralize;
      as, alkali kills acid.

   {To kill time}, to busy one's self with something which
      occupies the attention, or makes the time pass without
      tediousness.

   Syn: To murder; assassinate; slay; butcher; destroy. -- To
        {Kill}, {Murder}, {Assassinate}. To kill does not
        necessarily mean any more than to deprive of life. A man
        may kill another by accident or in self-defense, without
        the imputation of guilt. To murder is to kill with
        malicious forethought and intention. To assassinate is
        tomurder suddenly and by stealth. The sheriff may kill
        without murdering; the duelist murders, but does not
        assassinate his antagonist; the assassin kills and
        murders.