Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Terminate \Ter"mi*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Terminated}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Terminating}.] [L. terminatus, p. p. of
   terminare. See {Term}.]
   1. To set a term or limit to; to form the extreme point or
      side of; to bound; to limit; as, to terminate a surface by
      a line.

   2. To put an end to; to make to cease; as, to terminate an
      effort, or a controversy.

   3. Hence, to put the finishing touch to; to bring to
      completion; to perfect.

            During this interval of calm and prosperity, he
            [Michael Angelo] terminated two figures of slaves,
            destined for the tomb, in an incomparable style of
            art.                                  --J. S.
                                                  Harford.

Terminate \Ter"mi*nate\, v. i.
   1. To be limited in space by a point, line, or surface; to
      stop short; to end; to cease; as, the torrid zone
      terminates at the tropics.

   2. To come to a limit in time; to end; to close.

            The wisdom of this world, its designs and efficacy,
            terminate on zhis side heaven.        --South.

Source : WordNet®

terminate
     v 1: bring to an end or halt; "She ended their friendship when
          she found out that he had once been convicted of a
          crime"; "The attack on Poland terminated the relatively
          peaceful period after WWI" [syn: {end}] [ant: {begin}, {get
          down}]
     2: have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense;
        either spatial or metaphorical; "the bronchioles terminate
        in a capillary bed"; "Your rights stop where you infringe
        upon the rights of other"; "My property ends by the
        bushes"; "The symphony ends in a pianissimo" [syn: {end},
        {stop}, {finish}, {cease}] [ant: {begin}]
     3: be the end of; be the last or concluding part of; "This sad
        scene ended the movie" [syn: {end}]
     4: terminate the employment of; "The boss fired his secretary
        today"; "The company terminated 25% of its workers" [syn:
        {fire}, {give notice}, {can}, {dismiss}, {give the axe}, {send
        away}, {sack}, {force out}, {give the sack}] [ant: {hire}]