Entry Word: extinguish

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to cause to cease burning <the fire in the skillet was quickly extinguished by slamming the lid on>

Synonyms douse, put out, quench, snuff (out)

Related Words choke, smother, suffocate; stamp (out)

Antonyms fire, ignite, inflame, kindle

2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a fatal blunder that extinguished all hope that the team would actually win the play-offs> — see destroy 1