hol·o·caust
 holocaust
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- pronunciation:
- ha
l
kawst
[or]
ho
l
kawst
- features:
- Word History, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a great destruction by fire.
During the cold war, many people feared a nuclear holocaust.- similar words:
- destruction
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| definition 2: |
(capitalized) the killing of millions of Jews and members of other groups by Nazis during the Second World War.
The Holocaust is remembered as one of history's most terrible crimes against humanity.- similar words:
- annihilation, massacre, slaughter
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| related words: |
fire |
| derivations: |
holocaustal (adj.), holocaustic (adj.) |
Holocaust comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "burnt whole." The English word
caustic also has Greek beginnings. A caustic chemical is one that causes a burning feeling on the skin. Compare the words "caustic" and "holocaust," and you may be able to guess which part of the word "holocaust" comes from the ancient Greek word for "burnt."