terminate

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To end something, especially when left in an incomplete state.

   • to terminate a process before its completion
   • to terminate an effort, or a controversy
   • During this interval of calm and prosperity, he terminated two figures of slaves, destined for the tomb, in an incomparable style of art.
2. 2

   To conclude.

3. 3

   To set or be a limit or boundary to.

   • to terminate a surface by a line
4. ›+ 9 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To form an appropriate end on (a wire, cable, hose, pipe, etc), such as by applying a…

      To form an appropriate end on (a wire, cable, hose, pipe, etc), such as by applying a cable terminal or a hose ferrule.

      • We'll rough them all in before we start terminating any of them.
   2. 5

      To end the employment contract of an employee

      To end the employment contract of an employee; to fire, lay off.

   3. 6

      To kill someone or something.

      • The enemy must be terminated by any means possible.
   4. 7

      To end, conclude, or cease

      To end, conclude, or cease; to come to an end.

   5. 8

      Of a mode of transport, to end its journey

      Of a mode of transport, to end its journey; or, of a railway line, to reach its terminus.

      • This train terminates at the next station.
      • It is a branch that climbs for 11½ miles into the picturesque Wealden hills until, apparently exhausted by the effort, it terminates a mile short of the village of Hawkhurst.
      • After dropping off travellers at Foregate Street, my train terminates at Shrub Hill - a station which boasts one of the best selection [sic] of semaphore signals left in the country.
   6. 9

      To issue or result.

   7. 10

      Terminated

      Terminated; limited; bounded; ended.

   8. 11

      Having a definite and clear limit or boundary

      Having a definite and clear limit or boundary; having a determinate size, shape or magnitude.

      • Mountains on the Moon cast shadows that are very dark, terminate and more distinct than those cast by mountains on the Earth.
   9. 12

      Expressible in a finite number of terms

      Expressible in a finite number of terms; (of a decimal) not recurring or infinite.

      • One third is a recurring decimal, but one half is a terminate decimal.

The neighborhood

• synonymdiscontinueto end incompletely
• synonymstopto end incompletely
• synonymbreak offto end incompletely
• synonymfire
• synonymsack
• synonymlay off
• antonymcontinueantonym(s) of “to end incompletely”
• neighborterminable
• neighbortermination
• neighborterminator
• neighborterminus
• neighborabort