guillotine in English
- guillotine⇄guillotine, noun, verb, -tined,-tining.
- guillotine⇄noun 1. a machine for cutting off people's heads by means of a heavy blade that slides down in grooves made in two posts. The guillotine was used during the French Revolution.
2. an instrument for cutting out the tonsils.
3. a machine for c - guillotine⇄v.t. 1. to cut off the head of (someone) with a guillotine.
2. to cut (as paper) with a guillotine.
3. (British.) to end debate on (a bill, amendment, or other measure) by guillotine; apply cloture to.
guillotine in Hindi हिन्दी
guillotine in Marathi मराठी
guillotine in Nepali नेपाली
guillotine in Sindhi سنڌي
guillotine in Urdu اُردُو
Guillotine
Part of Speech
Noun, Verb
Pronunciation
/ˈɡɪlətiːn/ (English), /ɡi.jɔ.tin/ (French)
Definitions
- (Noun) A device with a heavy blade used for beheading, historically associated with executions in France.
- (Noun) A machine used for cutting paper with a descending blade.
- (Verb) To execute by means of a guillotine.
- (Verb) To cut something swiftly and decisively.
Usage Examples
- The guillotine was a symbol of the French Revolution.
- She used a guillotine to trim the large stack of paper precisely.
- The condemned prisoner was guillotined at dawn.
Etymology
From French guillotine, named after Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, an 18th-century advocate of humane execution methods.
Synonyms
- Decapitation device
- Paper cutter
- Beheading machine
Antonyms
- Preserver
- Joiner
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | guillotina | /ɡi.ʎoˈtina/ |
| French | guillotine | /ɡi.jɔ.tin/ |
| German | Guillotine | /ɡi.loˈtiːnə/ |
| Hindi | गिलोटिन | /gilōṭin/ |
| Tamil | கிலாட்டின் | /kilāṭṭin/ |
| Chinese | 断头台 | /duàn tóu tái/ |
| Japanese | ギロチン | /girochin/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- English: /ˈɡɪlətiːn/
- French: /ɡi.jɔ.tin/
- German: /ɡi.loˈtiːnə/
Historical Usage
The guillotine became infamous during the French Revolution (1789–1799), used for mass executions. It remained France’s official execution method until the death penalty was abolished in 1981.
Cultural Nuances
Though associated with brutality, the guillotine was originally designed as a more humane execution method. Today, the term is used metaphorically for abrupt endings, such as "guillotining a debate" in parliamentary contexts.
More Information
Beyond its historical use, guillotine-style cutters are common in offices and print shops for trimming paper accurately. The term is also used in medicine for certain surgical cutting techniques.