guillotine — meaning in English
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English meaning
- guillotine noun A device with a tall frame and a heavy angled blade, historically used to carry out executions by beheading.
Senses
guillotine is used for these senses in English:
- guillotine (historical, also, figuratively) A machine used for the application of capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of a tall upright frame from which is suspended a heavy diagonal-edged blade which is dropped onto the neck of the person to be executed; also, execution using this machine.
- guillotine A device used for cutting the pages of books, stacks of paper, etc., to straight edges, usually by means of a hinged or sliding blade attached to a flat platform.
guillotine — full definition
- noun A device with a tall frame and a heavy angled blade, historically used to carry out executions by beheading.
- noun A cutting tool or machine with a hinged or sliding blade, used to trim paper or other flat materials.
- verb To execute someone using a guillotine, or to cut something with one.
- noun A parliamentary procedure that sets a firm deadline for ending debate on a bill.