killer
gb/kˈɪlɚ/ us/kˈɪlɚ/
B1
Inglés
~ 5900
gyilkos, fő halálok, sok halálesetet okozó tényező, kínszenvedés, rémálom, kimerítő, elképesztő, ütős, dögös, eszméletlen, király, őrületes, halálos
SUSTANTIVO
B1
1
gyilkos
B1
Patrón de uso:
to call [someone] a killer
The police finally arrested the killer after a month-long investigation.
A rendőrség egy hónapig tartó nyomozás után végre letartóztatta a gyilkost.
The victim’s family wanted the killer to receive a long prison sentence.
Az áldozat családja azt akarta, hogy a gyilkos hosszú börtönbüntetést kapjon.
Detectives believe the killer knew the victim personally.
The movie follows a hired killer who starts to feel guilty about his work.
Witnesses helped create a sketch of the suspected killer.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The police caught the killer last night.
A rendőrség tegnap este elfogta a gyilkost.
The killer used a gun.
A gyilkos lőfegyvert használt.
Everyone in the town was afraid of the killer.
The killer went to prison for many years.
The TV show is about a killer and a detective.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think "killer" is always negative and cannot be used metaphorically. Note that in other senses it can be positive or neutral (e.g., "a killer song"). Also, some learners use "killer" when the legal term "murderer" would be more precise in formal writing.
Significado
person who intentionally kills someone
Colocaciones
serial killer
|contract killer
|hired killer
|cold-blooded killer
|ruthless killer
|catch the killer
Sinónimos
murderer (Legal and formal term for someone who intentionally kills another person; slightly more formal and specific than "killer".)
|
assassin (A killer who murders someone important, often for money or political reasons.)
Antónimos
victim (The person who is harmed or killed, rather than the one who causes the death.)
|
protector (Someone who keeps others safe instead of harming them.)
Temas
crime
|law
|violence
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Definición
A person who kills another person on purpose, usually as a crime.
A person who intentionally causes the death of another person, especially in a criminal context.
B2
2
Patrón de uso:
[something] is a major killer of [people]
Heart disease is still the number-one killer in many countries.
A szívbetegség sok országban még mindig az első számú halálok.
Smoking remains a major killer of middle-aged men worldwide.
A dohányzás világszerte továbbra is az egyik fő halálok a középkorú férfiak körében.
Road accidents are a leading killer of young adults.
For children under five, preventable infections are a big killer.
Experts warn that heatwaves could become a silent killer in large cities.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Cancer is a major killer in the world.
A rák világszerte az egyik fő halálok.
Smoking is a big killer of people.
A dohányzás sok ember halálát okozza.
Car crashes are a leading killer of young drivers.
For older people, the flu can be a real killer.
In some poor areas, dirty water is a common killer.
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse this sense with the personal-criminal sense and say things like "cancer is a murderer". For non-human or non-personal causes of death, use "killer" or phrases like "major cause of death" instead.
Significado
thing that causes many deaths
Colocaciones
major killer
|leading killer
|number-one killer
|silent killer
|big killer
|top killer
Sinónimos
deadly cause (Emphasizes that the cause leads to death; less idiomatic than "killer".)
|
fatal threat (Highlights danger and possibility of death, used more in formal or dramatic contexts.)
Antónimos
lifesaver (Something that prevents death or helps people stay alive, the opposite of a cause of death.)
|
protection (Something that guards against harm or death.)
Temas
health
|science
|society
Definición
Something, like a disease or habit, that kills many people.
A disease, condition, activity, or factor that causes many people to die.
SUSTANTIVO
B2
INFORMAL
3
kínszenvedés
B2
rémálom
B1
Patrón de uso:
[something] is a real killer
That final exam was a real killer; almost half the class failed.
Az a záróvizsga igazi kínszenvedés volt; az osztály majdnem fele megbukott.
The hike was a killer, but the view at the top was worth it.
A túra kínszenvedés volt, de a csúcson a látvány miatt megérte.
Working night shifts can be a killer on your body clock.
This heat is a killer if you don’t drink enough water.
The last ten minutes of the workout were absolute killers.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The test yesterday was a real killer.
A tegnapi dolgozat igazi kínszenvedés volt.
My new job is a killer; I work 12 hours a day.
Az új munkám kínszenvedés; napi 12 órát dolgozom.
This climb is a killer for my legs.
This heat is a killer for old people.
The last part of the race was a killer.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use only "very difficult" and do not realize this figurative noun use of "killer" is common in informal speech. Also, do not use it in very formal writing or exams; it is casual.
Significado
very hard or exhausting thing
Colocaciones
real killer
|that exam was a killer
|this heat is a killer
|killer of my back
|schedule is a killer
Sinónimos
ordeal (Suggests a very difficult and painful experience; more formal and serious in tone.)
|
nightmare (Informal; stresses how extremely unpleasant or stressful something is.)
Antónimos
breeze (Informal; means something is very easy to do.)
|
walkover (Something that is won or done very easily, especially in sports or competition.)
Temas
daily_life
|work
|education
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definición
A task, event, or situation that is very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
Something that is extremely difficult, tiring, or unpleasant to experience or do.
B2
INFORMAL
4
Patrón de uso:
a killer [task/event/workout/exam]
She has a killer schedule this week, with meetings every day until 9 p.m.
Ezen a héten gyilkos a beosztása: mindennap este 9-ig megbeszélései vannak.
That was a killer workout; my legs are shaking.
Gyilkos edzés volt; remeg a lábam.
I woke up with a killer headache and had to stay in bed.
The team pulled an all-nighter to meet a killer deadline.
It’s a killer climb, but the view from the top is amazing.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
I did a killer workout at the gym.
Végigcsináltam egy gyilkos edzést az edzőteremben.
He has a killer exam tomorrow.
Holnap gyilkos vizsgája lesz.
She works a killer night shift every weekend.
I have a killer headache today.
This is a killer job for one person.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the positive slang sense ("a killer song"). Here, the word is negative or at least challenging. Context (workout, exam, headache, schedule) usually shows the meaning.
Significado
extremely hard or exhausting
Colocaciones
killer workout
|killer exam
|killer schedule
|killer deadline
|killer headache
|killer shift
Sinónimos
brutal (Informal; suggests something is extremely hard or harsh to go through.)
|
grueling (Stresses physical or mental exhaustion from something very demanding; slightly more formal.)
Antónimos
easy (General opposite, meaning not difficult.)
|
light (Describes work or activity that is not hard or heavy.)
Temas
daily_life
|work
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definición
Very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
Extremely difficult, tiring, or unpleasant to do or experience.
B2
SLANG
5
Patrón de uso:
a killer [idea/outfit/song/performance]
She walked in wearing a killer dress that turned every head in the room.
Egy dögös ruhában lépett be, amelyre a teremben mindenki felfigyelt.
That was a killer performance—the crowd went wild.
Ütős produkció volt – a közönség teljesen megőrült.
He came up with a killer idea for the marketing campaign.
The band’s new single is absolutely killer.
We got a killer deal on our holiday flight.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
She is wearing a killer red dress.
Dögös piros ruhát visel.
That movie was killer; I loved it.
Az a film király volt; imádtam.
He has a killer idea for the game.
The band played a killer song at the end.
We got a killer price on this phone.
Error frecuente:
Learners may think "killer" is always negative. In this slang sense, it is very positive. Do not use this in formal writing; choose words like "excellent" or "outstanding" instead.
Significado
extremely good or impressive
Colocaciones
killer outfit
|killer dress
|killer idea
|killer song
|killer show
|killer deal
Sinónimos
awesome (Very common informal praise; slightly broader and less intense than "killer".)
|
fantastic (Strongly positive but more neutral and polite than the slangy "killer".)
Antónimos
terrible (Describes something very bad, the opposite of extremely good.)
|
lame (Slang; describes something weak, unimpressive, or boring.)
Temas
evaluation
|entertainment
|appearance
|core_vocabulary
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Definición
Very, very good or very attractive; much better than normal.
Extremely good, impressive, attractive, or exciting.
B2
6
Patrón de uso:
a killer [instinct/blow/virus/storm]
She has a real killer instinct on the tennis court.
A teniszpályán igazi gyilkos ösztönnel játszik.
The boxer landed a killer blow in the final round.
Az ökölvívó az utolsó menetben gyilkos ütést vitt be.
Scientists are studying a new killer virus that spreads quickly.
The town was hit by a killer storm that destroyed several houses.
In the film, a killer robot goes out of control.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The player has a killer instinct and always wants to win.
A játékosnak gyilkos ösztöne van, és mindig nyerni akar.
The fighter used one killer blow to end the match.
A harcos egyetlen gyilkos ütéssel vetett véget a mérkőzésnek.
A killer virus can move from country to country very fast.
The village was hit by a killer storm last night.
In the story, a killer machine attacks the city.
Error frecuente:
Learners may mix this sense with the positive slang sense. In collocations like "killer virus" or "killer storm", "killer" is negative and about danger, not praise.
Significado
very powerful or deadly
Colocaciones
killer instinct
|killer blow
|killer virus
|killer storm
|killer robot
|killer bacteria
Sinónimos
deadly (Stresses the ability to kill; slightly more formal and direct than "killer".)
|
lethal (More technical or formal word for something able to cause death.)
Antónimos
harmless (Describes something that cannot or is very unlikely to cause harm.)
|
weak (Lacking power or strength, the opposite of very strong or dangerous.)
Temas
danger
|health
|sports
|core_vocabulary
|law
Definición
So strong or dangerous that it can kill or hurt people very much, or very strong in winning or beating others.
Very powerful, effective, or dangerous, and able to kill or cause serious harm.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
killer
AFI
GB/kˈɪlɚ/
US/kˈɪlɚ/
Sílabas y acento
killer (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (killer)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: killer
- Plural: killers
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
contract killer
1/kˈɑntɹˌækt kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
person hired to kill for money
A person who kills people for money, usually as a secret job.
Ejemplos
- The mob hired a contract killer to get rid of their enemy.
- In the film, a contract killer decides to retire after one last job.
killer app
1/kˈɪlɚ ˈæp/
fixed phrase
informal
software that makes a platform popular
A very good and useful computer or phone program that makes many people want to use or buy the device or system it runs on.
Ejemplos
- Messaging was the killer app that made many people buy smartphones.
- Developers are still looking for the next killer app in virtual reality.
killer instinct
1/kˈɪlɚ ˈɪnstɪŋkt/
fixed phrase
strong desire to win or defeat
A strong natural feeling that makes someone very aggressive about winning or beating others, especially in sport or business.
Ejemplos
- Great athletes often have a killer instinct in close games.
- She lacks the killer instinct needed to succeed in high-pressure sales.
killer whale
1/kˈɪlɚ wˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
the marine animal orca
A large black-and-white sea animal, also called an orca, that eats fish and other sea animals.
Ejemplos
- We saw a pod of killer whales swimming near the boat.
- Killer whales are highly intelligent and hunt in groups.
lady-killer
1/lˈeɪdi kˈɪlɚ/
idiom
informal
man very attractive to many women
A man who is very attractive to many women and often has many romantic relationships.
Ejemplos
- Everyone says he’s a real lady-killer with that smile.
- The actor gained a reputation as a lady-killer after his romantic movie roles.
silent killer
1/sˈaɪlənt kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
deadly disease with no clear early signs
A disease or health problem that can kill people but often has no clear signs until it is very serious.
Ejemplos
- High blood pressure is often called a silent killer.
- Doctors warn that diabetes can be a silent killer if it is not checked regularly.
stone-cold killer
1/stˈoʊn kˈoʊld kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
killer with no visible emotion
A killer who does not show any feelings, fear, or guilt when killing people.
Ejemplos
- The prosecutor described the defendant as a stone-cold killer.
- In the series, he starts as a stone-cold killer but slowly grows a conscience.
serial killer
1/sˈɪɹiəl kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
Person who murders repeatedly over time
A person who kills many people over time, with breaks between the killings.
Ejemplos
- The police believe they are dealing with a serial killer.
- The police believe a serial killer is responsible for the recent murders.
- The movie is based on the crimes of a real-life serial killer.
- Many crime shows focus on the hunt for a serial killer.