holocaust

/ˈhoʊləkɑst//ˈhɒləkɔːst//ˈhoʊləkɔst/

noun

  1. 1

    A sacrifice that is completely burned to ashes.

  2. 2

    Extensive destruction of a group (usually of people or animals), whether by deliberate agency or by natural agency (especially fire).

    “1895 September 10, "ANOTHER ARMENIAN HOLOCAUST; Five Villages Burned, Five Thousand Persons Made Homeless, and Anti-Christians Organized.", in The New York Times”
  3. 3

    In particular, a state-sponsored mass murder of an ethnic group, especially the Holocaust (which see).

verb

  1. 1

    To sacrifice and burn (an animal) completely.

  2. 2

    To destroy completely, especially by fire.

  3. 3

    (possibly nonstandard) To subject to a holocaust (mass annihilation); to destroy en masse. (Compare genocide.)

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