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“Kill” or “Kiln”

kill / kiln are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

kill k·IH·l

  • nounthe destruction of an enemy plane or ship or tank or missile.
  • verbcause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly.
  • verbthwart the passage of.
  • verbbe fatal.
  • verbbe the source of great pain for.
  • verboverwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration.
  • verbhit with so much force as to make a return impossible, in racket games.
  • verbhit with great force.
  • verbdeprive of life.
  • verbcause the death of, without intention.
  • verbmark for deletion, rub off, or erase.
  • verbtire out completely.
  • verbcause to cease operating.
  • verbdestroy a vitally essential quality of or in.

kiln k·IH·l·n

  • nouna furnace for firing or burning or drying such things as porcelain or bricks.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“kill”

  • …the two look like they'll kill each other.
  • …Mussulman physician advised her to kill a dog and put her…
  • …gun in her mouth to kill her.
  • Calhoun killed the nomination with a tie-breaking…
  • …SWAT Kats were able to kill him by blowing up his…
  • "Worlds to Kill" (Harlan Ellison)
  • …because running into them will kill the player's snake.
  • …shot Lummis but failed to kill him.
  • In May 2007, Mai-Mai killed two wildlife officers in Virunga…
  • Walls will kill the snake, if it runs…

“kiln”

  • …up a sawmill and brick kiln.
  • …100 thousand bricks from a kiln to Mr Maxwell’s property.
  • …in Ukraine a strong tunnel kiln for firing of building and…
  • …one mile south on Lime Kiln Mountain.
  • …estate, where the last surviving kiln of the Rockingham Pottery can…
  • …annexes include horse-stables, wine-cellars, hayloft, kiln and other buildings.
  • …Star broadcasts came from Lime Kiln Studios in Wootton Bassett, near…
  • …and remains of the bottle kiln at Stoke-on-Trent.

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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