Definitions for: Decimate

[v] kill in large numbers; "the plague wiped out an entire population"
[v] kill one in every ten of, as of mutineers in Roman armies

Webster (1913) Definition: Dec"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Decimating.] [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to
decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See
Decimal.]
1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. --Johnson.

2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of;
as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny.
--Macaulay.

3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army
in battle; to decimate a people by disease.

Synonyms: annihilate, carry off, eliminate, eradicate, extinguish, wipe out

See Also: kill

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