roadkill en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈɹoʊdˌkɪl/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈɹəʊdˌkɪl/ (UK)
Etymology
Etymology tree English road Dutch kilbor. English kill English roadkill From road + kill.
Meanings
- (US, uncountable, usually) The killing of an animal by a road vehicle.
- (US, uncountable, usually) The killing of an animal by a road vehicle. ▸ A successful kill in a deathmatch game by hitting an opponent with a road vehicle. A point or score (when considered collectively) gained by successfully killing opponents by a road vehiclein a deathmatch game.
-
(US, uncountable, usually) The animal or animals so killed.
The van was heading straight for her and travelling faster and faster by the second. Zoe had to do something or she would be roadkill.
2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
- (broadly, uncountable, usually) A helpless victim.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| road kill | alternative | lexicographic | |
| roadkills | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (2)
de überfahrenes Tier (animal killed by a road vehicle) · fi auton alle jäänyt eläin (animal killed by a road vehicle)