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| butch·er·y [ bchəree ] (plural butch·er·ies) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. brutal killing: brutal, senseless, and cruel slaughter of people, usually in large numbers
 an act of appalling butchery
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2. use of knives on carcass: the use of knives or other tools to remove meat from an animal's carcass
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3. butcher's work: the work of somebody who sells meat at retail or who slaughters animals for their meat
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4. incompetence: an incompetent attempt at a job, performance, or activity
(
informal
)
 the singer's butchery of the melody
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| [14th century. < French boucherie< Old French bo(u)chier (see butcher)] |