GUILLOTINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does guillotine mean? 

• GUILLOTINE (noun)
  The noun GUILLOTINE has 2 senses:

1. closure imposed on the debate of specific sections of a bill

2. instrument of execution that consists of a weighted blade between two vertical poles; used for beheading people

  Familiarity information: GUILLOTINE used as a noun is rare.

• GUILLOTINE (verb)
  The verb GUILLOTINE has 1 sense:

1. kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine

  Familiarity information: GUILLOTINE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GUILLOTINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Closure imposed on the debate of specific sections of a bill

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

closure by compartment; guillotine

Hypernyms ("guillotine" is a kind of...):

closure; cloture; gag law; gag rule (a rule for limiting or ending debate in a deliberative body)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Instrument of execution that consists of a weighted blade between two vertical poles; used for beheading people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("guillotine" is a kind of...):

instrument of execution (an instrument designed and used to take the life of a condemned person)

Derivation:

guillotine (kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine)

• GUILLOTINE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they guillotine    ... he / she / it guillotines   
Past simple: guillotined   
Past participle: guillotined   
-ing form: guillotining   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country

Hypernyms (to "guillotine" is one way to...):

behead; decapitate; decollate (cut the head of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to guillotine the prisoners

Derivation:

guillotine (instrument of execution that consists of a weighted blade between two vertical poles; used for beheading people)