World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesguillotine
Pronunciation / Transliteration: gee-yoh-teen
"La guillotine a été abolie en France en 1981."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A machine with a heavy blade sliding vertically in grooves, used for executing people by decapitation.
"During the French Revolution, the guillotine became the primary instrument of capital punishment."
- 1
To execute someone using a guillotine, or figuratively, to abruptly end or curtail a parliamentary debate.
"The government decided to guillotine the debate to ensure the bill was passed before the recess."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the French surname of Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a French physician who proposed the adoption of a machine for executions in 1789. The term entered English in the late 18th century during the French Revolution, later acquiring a figurative parliamentary sense for curtailing debate.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Guillotine"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Guillotine" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
guillotine
Transliteration: gee-yoh-teen
"La guillotine a été abolie en France en 1981."
Guillotine
Transliteration: ギロチン
"Die Guillotine ist ein historisches Hinrichtungsgerät."
ghigliottina
Transliteration: ɡiʎʎotˈtiːna
"La ghigliottina fu ampiamente usata durante la rivoluzione francese."
guillotina
Transliteration: ɡiʝoˈtina
"La guillotina es un símbolo infame de la Revolución Francesa."
guilhotina
Transliteration: ɡiʎoˈtʃinɐ
"A guilhotina foi o método padrão de execução na França revolucionária."
गिलोटीन
Transliteration: giloteen
"फ्रांसीसी क्रांति के दौरान गिलोटीन का बड़े पैमाने पर उपयोग किया गया था।"
断头台
Transliteration: duàn tóu tái
"断头台是法国大革命时期的标志性刑具。"
단두대
Transliteration: dandudae
"프랑스 혁명 시기에 단두대가 널리 사용되었습니다."
ギロチン
Transliteration: girocin
"ギロチンはフランス革命の象徴的な処刑道具です。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all French termsA trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or has already disappeared.
To be inclined to favor, choose, or support a particular option, idea, or course of action.
The office, government, or rule of a shōgun, the hereditary military commander who ruled Japan de facto through much of the feudal period.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Guillotine"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.