tr.v., -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates.

1. To kill as a sacrifice.
2. To kill (oneself) by fire.
3. To destroy.

[Latin immolāre, immolāt-, to sacrifice, sprinkle with sacrificial meal : in-, on; see in–² + mola, meal, millstone.]

immolation im'mo·la'tion n.
immolator im'mo·la'tor n.

verb

To offer as a sacrifice: sacrifice, victimize. See give/take/reciprocity, religion.

IN BRIEF: To kill or destroy, often by fire.

Organizations do not protect the sacredness of the individual; their tendency is to sink the individual in the mass, to sacrifice his rights, and to immolate him on the altar of some fancied good. — Angelina Grimke (1805-1879), U.S. abolitionist and feminist. As quoted in The Grimke Sisters from South Carolina, ch. 18, by Gerda Lerner (1967).

Tutor's tip: This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction

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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - ofre

Nederlands (Dutch)
offeren

Français (French)
v. tr. - immoler

Deutsch (German)
v. - (auf)opfern

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - (θρησκ., μτφ.) θύω, σφαγιάζω (για θυσία)

Italiano (Italian)
immolare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - imolar

Русский (Russian)
приносить в жертву

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - inmolar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - slakta till offer, offra (äv. bildl.)

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
牺牲, 献祭, 献出

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 犧牲, 獻祭, 獻出

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 신에게 바치기 위해 죽이다, 희생으로 바치다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 犠牲にする, いけにえとして殺す

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يضحي, يقدم قربانا‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הקריב (קורבן)‬

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