noun

guillotine

GIH-luh-teen

Guillotine (noun) means a device with a tall frame and a heavy angled blade, historically used to carry out executions by beheading. Example: “Thousands were executed by guillotine during the French Revolution.”

noun

A device with a tall frame and a heavy angled blade, historically used to carry out executions by beheading.

"Thousands were executed by guillotine during the French Revolution."

A cutting tool or machine with a hinged or sliding blade, used to trim paper or other flat materials.

"The print shop used a guillotine to cut the stack of flyers to size."

A parliamentary procedure that sets a firm deadline for ending debate on a bill.

"The government applied the guillotine to force a vote before midnight."

verb

To execute someone using a guillotine, or to cut something with one.

"The paper was guillotined into neat, equal sheets."

How to use guillotine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe beheading device from the French Revolution, or by extension any blade-cutting tool or a hard cutoff on debate.

Common pairings

send to the guillotine paper guillotine apply the guillotine

Word forms

guillotined past tense, guillotines plural, guillotines singular

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Etymology

Named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who proposed its use for executions in the late 18th century.

Origin: French · First attested 1700

Class of 1700 guillotine joined the language around 1700.

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Synonyms

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closure by compartment

Rhymes for guillotine

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

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Frequently asked questions

What does “guillotine” mean?

The word “guillotine” means a device with a tall frame and a heavy angled blade, historically used to carry out executions by beheading. In plain terms, the beheading device from the French Revolution, or by extension any blade-cutting tool or a hard cutoff on debate.

How do you pronounce “guillotine”?

“Guillotine” is pronounced GIH-luh-teen (/ˈɡɪləˌtin/ in IPA).

How do you use “guillotine” in a sentence?

Here is “guillotine” used in a sentence: “Thousands were executed by guillotine during the French Revolution.”

What part of speech is “guillotine”?

Depending on how it is used, “guillotine” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “guillotine” come from?

The word “guillotine” dates back to around 1700 and comes from French. Named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who proposed its use for executions in the late 18th century.

How many meanings does “guillotine” have?

“Guillotine” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device with a tall frame and a heavy angled blade, historically used to carry out executions by beheading.