Guillotine
noun
A device used in the past to cut off a person's head as a way of executing them.
The French Revolution is known for the use of the guillotine to execute the aristocrats.
Often appears as...
- use the guillotine
- die by guillotine
Usage tips
Historical
verb
To cut something swiftly and decisively.
The company guillotined jobs in a desperate attempt to save money.
Often appears as...
- guillotine jobs
- funding
noun
A machine with a heavy blade sliding vertically that is used for cutting paper or printing plates.
The printing house bought a new guillotine to increase efficiency.
Often appears as...
- paper guillotine
- use a guillotine
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A tool used for pruning trees and bushes.
He used a guillotine to cut off the branches that were obstructing the walkway.
Often appears as...
- use a guillotine
- prune with a guillotine
noun
In politics, a method of speeding up decision-making by limiting debate.
The party leader decided to guillotine the debate and move straight to a vote.
Often appears as...
- guillotine debate
- procedure
Usage tips
Formal
Political
noun
A device used in the past to cut off a person's head as a way of executing them.
The French Revolution is known for the use of the guillotine to execute the aristocrats.
Often appears as...
- use the guillotine
- die by guillotine
Usage tips
Historical
verb
To cut something swiftly and decisively.
The company guillotined jobs in a desperate attempt to save money.
Often appears as...
- guillotine jobs
- funding
noun
A machine with a heavy blade sliding vertically that is used for cutting paper or printing plates.
The printing house bought a new guillotine to increase efficiency.
Often appears as...
- paper guillotine
- use a guillotine
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A tool used for pruning trees and bushes.
He used a guillotine to cut off the branches that were obstructing the walkway.
Often appears as...
- use a guillotine
- prune with a guillotine
noun
In politics, a method of speeding up decision-making by limiting debate.
The party leader decided to guillotine the debate and move straight to a vote.
Often appears as...
- guillotine debate
- procedure
Usage tips
Formal
Political
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Gravity
The word conveys the gravity of historical death penalties.
Tours often include the guillotine's chilling history.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Symbol
Guillotine symbolizes the French Revolution and social upheaval.
Revolution-themed movies frequently depict the guillotine.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Casual Use
Use with sensitivity, due to its connection to death.
To mention a guillotine, ensure the context is appropriate.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Gravity
The word conveys the gravity of historical death penalties.
Tours often include the guillotine's chilling history.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Symbol
Guillotine symbolizes the French Revolution and social upheaval.
Revolution-themed movies frequently depict the guillotine.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Casual Use
Use with sensitivity, due to its connection to death.
To mention a guillotine, ensure the context is appropriate.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Gravity
The word conveys the gravity of historical death penalties.
Tours often include the guillotine's chilling history.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Symbol
Guillotine symbolizes the French Revolution and social upheaval.
Revolution-themed movies frequently depict the guillotine.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Casual Use
Use with sensitivity, due to its connection to death.
To mention a guillotine, ensure the context is appropriate.
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Video examples
The secret student...
where they fit perfectly. When Hans and Sophie confessed, they were immediately led to court and sentenced to death by guillotine. Despite a grueling interrogation, the two refused to betray their co-conspirators. Before her execution, Sophie declared her fury at the state of her country.
Video examples
The danger of silence PIPE...
more than my students needed their dignity. We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't. Silence is the residue of fear. It is feeling your flaws gut-wrench guillotine your tongue.
Video examples
How a Great White Shark...
With that many daggers, this shark may not need as much bite force as a bull shark. While the bull shark's teeth act like a buzz saw, a white shark's function like a guillotine. Great white sharks have 24 teeth on the top
Video examples
The secret student...
where they fit perfectly. When Hans and Sophie confessed, they were immediately led to court and sentenced to death by guillotine. Despite a grueling interrogation, the two refused to betray their co-conspirators. Before her execution, Sophie declared her fury at the state of her country.
Video examples
The danger of silence PIPE...
more than my students needed their dignity. We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't. Silence is the residue of fear. It is feeling your flaws gut-wrench guillotine your tongue.
Video examples
How a Great White Shark...
With that many daggers, this shark may not need as much bite force as a bull shark. While the bull shark's teeth act like a buzz saw, a white shark's function like a guillotine. Great white sharks have 24 teeth on the top
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Bas Rutten
Dutch Athlete
Everybody knows a guillotine choke, and most know how to get to one. But if you can create a different way to get to that choke, then you're going to surprise people. However, that will only happen one time, because once it gets used that one time, everyone will see that and start to train for it.
Quote examples
Terry Teachout
American Critic
Aesthetes have it all over intellectuals in one very important respect: You'll rarely catch us hustling anyone off to the nearest guillotine. We're too busy trying to make the world more beautiful. Our hands are stained with ink and paint, not blood.
Quote examples
Brian Grazer
American Producer
I thought law school was more like the guillotine. I didn't really think I would make it; I just thought this is one of the few ways to potentially get respect, to go to law school.
Quote examples
Roseanne Barr
American Actress
I do say that I am in favor of the return of the guillotine and that is for the worst of the worst of the guilty.
Quote examples
P. G. Wodehouse
English Writer
There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.
Quote examples
Victor LaValle
American Author
The Sundial' is written with the kind of humor that would make a guillotine laugh.
Quote examples
Tom Malinowski
With no guillotine, 'A Tale of Two Cities' would have been a travel guide.
Quote examples
Herbert Lom
Czechoslovakian Actor
The guillotine was most effective and used until fairly recently.
Quote examples
David Hockney
English Artist
A belief is like a guillotine, just as heavy, just as light.
Quote examples
Jessica Andrade
Brazilian Mixed Martial Artist
Guillotine is my specialty. I love it.
Quote examples
Bas Rutten
Dutch Athlete
Everybody knows a guillotine choke, and most know how to get to one. But if you can create a different way to get to that choke, then you're going to surprise people. However, that will only happen one time, because once it gets used that one time, everyone will see that and start to train for it.
Quote examples
Terry Teachout
American Critic
Aesthetes have it all over intellectuals in one very important respect: You'll rarely catch us hustling anyone off to the nearest guillotine. We're too busy trying to make the world more beautiful. Our hands are stained with ink and paint, not blood.
Quote examples
Brian Grazer
American Producer
I thought law school was more like the guillotine. I didn't really think I would make it; I just thought this is one of the few ways to potentially get respect, to go to law school.
Quote examples
Roseanne Barr
American Actress
I do say that I am in favor of the return of the guillotine and that is for the worst of the worst of the guilty.
Quote examples
P. G. Wodehouse
English Writer
There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.
Quote examples
Victor LaValle
American Author
The Sundial' is written with the kind of humor that would make a guillotine laugh.
Quote examples
Tom Malinowski
With no guillotine, 'A Tale of Two Cities' would have been a travel guide.
Quote examples
Herbert Lom
Czechoslovakian Actor
The guillotine was most effective and used until fairly recently.
Quote examples
David Hockney
English Artist
A belief is like a guillotine, just as heavy, just as light.
Quote examples
Jessica Andrade
Brazilian Mixed Martial Artist
Guillotine is my specialty. I love it.
Example 1 of 10
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