winter-kill

verb

win·​ter-kill ˈwin-tər-ˌkil How to pronounce winter-kill (audio)
winter-killed; winter-killing; winter-kills

transitive verb

: to kill (a plant or part of a plant) by exposure to winter conditions

intransitive verb

: to die as a result of exposure to winter conditions
winterkill noun

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of winter-kill was in 1790

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Winter-kill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winter-kill. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

winter-kill

verb
win·​ter-kill
ˈwint-ər-ˌkil
: to cause the death of (as a plant) through the effects of winter and especially cold
also : to die as a result of the effects of winter conditions and especially cold
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster