murder

The crime of deliberately killing another person.

• Police are investigating a murder.
• She was charged with murder last week.
• Two murders occurred in the town that year.

Similar words: homicide

Common phrases: commit murder, murder investigation, charged with murder, murder trial

A group of crows, or sometimes ravens.

• A murder of crows crossed the sky.
• We watched a murder of crows feeding in the field.
• The tree sheltered a noisy murder of ravens.

How to use it: a murder of crows (A murder of crows gathered beside the barn.)

Similar words: flock

Common phrases: murder of crows, murder of ravens

To deliberately and illegally kill another person.

• Someone murdered the shop owner.
• Police believe he was murdered at home.
• The killer murdered two witnesses before escaping.

Similar words: kill, assassinate

Common phrases: murder someone, murder a witness, murder a rival

To punish or speak angrily to someone, said as an exaggerated threat.

• Mum will murder me for this mess!
• I’ll murder him if he’s lost my keys again.
• Her boss nearly murdered her for missing the meeting.

How to use it: murder someone for something (Dad will murder me for breaking his favorite mug.)

Similar words: tell off, chew out

Common phrases: murder someone, murder someone for something