extinction
The complete death of a kind of animal or plant, so that none are left alive in the world.
The permanent dying out of a species or large group of organisms, so that no living members remain anywhere.
The slow end of a way of life, a language, or a group of people until it does not exist anymore.
The process by which a custom, practice, language, or social group disappears and no longer exists.
In psychology, when a learned action slowly stops happening because it is not rewarded or repeated anymore.
In psychology, the gradual weakening and disappearance of a learned response when it is no longer reinforced or paired with the original stimulus.
In physics, when light or other energy becomes weaker as it moves through air, glass, dust, or another material.
In physics and astronomy, the reduction in intensity of light or other electromagnetic radiation as it passes through a medium, due to absorption and scattering.
In law, when a right, claim, or debt officially ends and does not exist anymore.
In law and finance, the formal ending of a legal right, claim, or obligation so that it no longer exists or can be enforced.
- Base: extinction
- Plural: extinction, extinctions
drive [something] to extinction
1cause something to die out
To make a kind of animal, plant, or practice die out completely, often by harmful actions.
- Illegal hunting could drive these rhinos to extinction within a decade.
- Pollution has already driven several freshwater species to extinction.
- Experts say that losing this wetland will eventually drive the local bird population to extinction.
extinction event
1period of many extinctions
A time in Earth’s history when many different kinds of animals and plants die out in a short time.
- The end-Permian extinction event wiped out most marine species.
- Researchers are debating whether current trends qualify as a human-driven extinction event.
- Fossil evidence suggests several smaller extinction events between the major ones.
extinction-level event
1catastrophic extinction-causing event
A very large disaster that could make many kinds of life, possibly including humans, die out completely.
- Some scientists monitor asteroids that could cause an extinction-level event.
- The film imagines an extinction-level event triggered by a supervolcano.
- An extinction-level event would permanently change life on Earth.
face extinction
1be threatened with extinction
To be in real danger of dying out completely.
- Without stronger protections, many insect species could face extinction.
- Small family farms face extinction as large companies take over.
- Linguists are documenting languages that face extinction in the next few decades.
in danger of extinction
1seriously threatened with extinction
At strong risk of dying out completely.
- Many shark species are in danger of extinction because of overfishing.
- The program focuses on animals that are in danger of extinction in the wild.
- Cultural festivals like this one are in danger of extinction as young people move away.
mass extinction
1large-scale loss of species
A time when many kinds of animals and plants die out in a short period of Earth’s history.
- Scientists fear that human activity is driving a sixth mass extinction.
- The asteroid impact is believed to have caused a mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
- Coral reefs are collapsing, which could trigger a regional mass extinction in the oceans.
on the brink of extinction
1very close to dying out
Almost extinct; very near the point where no members of a species or group are left.
- Several amphibian species are on the brink of extinction due to a deadly fungus.
- The rare language is on the brink of extinction, with fewer than twenty fluent speakers.
- Without urgent action, these turtles will be on the brink of extinction within decades.
prevent extinction
1stop something from dying out
To stop a kind of animal, plant, or group from dying out completely.
- Protected areas have been created to prevent extinction of the snow leopard.
- International cooperation is needed to prevent extinction of migratory bird species.
- Zoos and breeding programs can help prevent extinction in some cases.
risk of extinction
1chance of becoming extinct
The chance that a kind of animal, plant, or group will die out completely.
- Climate models show an increased risk of extinction for many polar species.
- Conservationists are working to lower the risk of extinction for these primates.
- Small, isolated populations face a higher risk of extinction.