extinction

extinction
[[t]ɪkstɪ̱ŋkʃ(ə)n[/t]]
1) N-UNCOUNT The extinction of a species of animal or plant is the death of all its remaining living members.

An operation is beginning to try to save a species of crocodile from extinction...

Many species have been shot to the verge of extinction.

2) N-UNCOUNT If someone refers to the extinction of a way of life or type of activity, they mean that the way of life or activity stops existing.

The loggers say their jobs are faced with extinction because of declining timber sales.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • extinction — [ ɛkstɛ̃ksjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1374; lat. exstinctio, de exstinguere « éteindre » 1 ♦ Action d éteindre. L extinction d un feu, d un incendie. Extinction des feux, des lumières : moment où toutes les lumières doivent être éteintes. Clairon qui sonne l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • extinction — Extinction. s. f. Action par laquelle on esteint. Extinction d un embrasement. on adjugea cette ferme, cette terre à l extinction de la chandelle. On dit aussi, l Extinction de la chaleur naturelle. On dit aussi fig. L extinction d un crime. l… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Extinction — Ex*tinc tion, n. [L. extinctio, exstinction: cf. F. extinction.] 1. The act of extinguishing or making extinct; a putting an end to; the act of putting out or destroying light, fire, life, activity, influence, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. State of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Extinction — (v. lat.), so v.w. Exstinction …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • extinction — index aberemurder, abolition, ademption, cancellation, catastrophe, death, demise (death), destruction …   Law dictionary

  • extinction — EXTINCTION: Ne s emploie qu avec paupérisme …   Dictionnaire des idées reçues

  • extinction — early 15c., from L. extinctionem/exstinctionem (nom. extinctio/exstinctio), noun of action from pp. stem of extinguere/exstinguere (see EXTINGUISH (Cf. extinguish)). Originally of fires, lights; figurative use, of wiping out a material thing (a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • extinction — see under extinguish at ABOLISH …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • extinction — [n] dying out annihilation, death, destruction, elimination, end of life, no life, obsolescence, thing of the past*; concept 252 …   New thesaurus

  • extinction — ► NOUN ▪ the state or process of being or becoming extinct …   English terms dictionary

  • extinction — [ek stiŋk′shən, ikstiŋk′shən] n. [ME extinccioun < L exstinctio < exstinctus: see EXTINCT] 1. a putting out or being put out, as of a fire 2. a destroying or being destroyed; annihilation; abolition 3. the fact or state of being or becoming …   English World dictionary

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