terminate

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: ter=mi=nate

CIDE DICTIONARY

terminate, v. t. [L. terminatus, p. p. of terminare. See Term.].

•  To set a term or limit to; to form the extreme point or side of; to bound; to limit; as, to terminate a surface by a line.  [1913 Webster]
•  To put an end to; to make to cease; as, to terminate an effort, or a controversy.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, to put the finishing touch to; to bring to completion; to perfect.  [1913 Webster]

  "During this interval of calm and prosperity, he [Michael Angelo] terminated two figures of slaves, destined for the tomb, in an incomparable style of art."  [1913 Webster]

terminate, v. i. 

•  To be limited in space by a point, line, or surface; to stop short; to end; to cease; as, the torrid zone terminates at the tropics.  [1913 Webster]
•  To come to a limit in time; to end; to close.  [1913 Webster]

  "The wisdom of this world, its designs and efficacy, terminate on zhis side heaven."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

terminate, v.
1 tr. & intr. bring or come to an end.
2 intr. (foll. by in) (of a word) end in (a specified letter or syllable etc.).
3 tr. end (a pregnancy) before term by artificial means.
4 tr. bound, limit.

Etymology

L terminare (as TERMINUS)

THESAURUS

terminate

abandon, abolish, abort, attend, ax, become of, belay, boot out, bounce, button up, cancel, cap, carry to completion, cashier, cease, clean up, climax, close, close out, close up, come about, come of, come out, complete, conclude, crown, culminate, cut it out, cut off, desist, determine, develop, discharge, discontinue, dismiss, dissolve, drop, drop it, end, ensue, eventuate, extinguish, fall out, fare, finalize, finish, finish off, finish up, fire, follow, get done, get it over, get through, get through with, give over, halt, have done with, hold, issue, kick out, knock it off, lay off, leave, leave off, mop up, pan out, perfect, perorate, prorogate, prorogue, prove, prove to be, quit, recess, refrain, relinquish, renounce, resign, resolve, result, rise, round out, sack, scrap, scratch, scrub, sign off, stay, stop, top off, top out, turn out, ultimate, unfold, wind down, wind up, work out, wrap up

ROGET THESAURUS

terminate

End

VB end, close, finish, terminate, conclude, be all over, expire, die, come-, draw-to-a-close, have run its course, run out, pass away, bring to an end, put an end to, make an end of, determine, get through, achieve, stop, shut up shop, hang up one's fiddle.