terminate

[ tur-muh-neyt ]
/ ˈtɜr məˌneɪt /

verb (used with object), ter·mi·nat·ed, ter·mi·nat·ing.

verb (used without object), ter·mi·nat·ed, ter·mi·nat·ing.

Origin of terminate

1580–90; v. use of late Middle English terminate (adj.) limited < Latin terminātus, past participle of termināre. See term, -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM terminate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH terminate

downsize fire lay off rightsize terminate

Example sentences from the Web for terminate

British Dictionary definitions for terminate

terminate
/ (ˈtɜːmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by in or with) to form, be, or put an end (to); conclude to terminate a pregnancy; their relationship terminated amicably
(tr) to connect (suitable circuitry) to the end of an electrical transmission line to absorb the energy and avoid reflections
(intr) maths (of a decimal expansion) to have only a finite number of digits
(tr) slang to kill (someone)

Derived forms of terminate

terminative, adjective terminatory, adjective

Word Origin for terminate

C16: from Latin terminātus limited, from termināre to set boundaries, from terminus end