butcher

A person whose job is to cut and sell meat.

• The butcher sells fresh meat.
• I bought some chicken from our local butcher.
• Ask the butcher to cut the beef into pieces.

Common phrases: local butcher, butcher shop, a skilled butcher

A person whose job is to kill animals and cut them up for meat.

• The butcher killed the pig.
• Two butchers prepared the animals for sale.
• They hired a trained butcher to handle the cattle.

Similar words: slaughterer

Common phrases: a trained butcher, a professional butcher

A person who kills people in a cruel and violent way.

• The villagers called him a butcher.
• The general became known as the butcher of the city.
• Survivors described the prison guards as butchers.

Similar words: murderer, killer

Common phrases: a ruthless butcher, a cruel butcher

To do something so badly that you spoil it completely.

• They butchered my favourite song.
• The studio butchered the script during editing.
• Please do not butcher this beautiful piece of music.

Similar words: ruin, botch, mangle

Common phrases: butcher a song, butcher a script, butcher something badly, butcher a name

To kill an animal and cut its body into pieces for food.

• They butchered a pig.
• The farmer learned to butcher sheep for meat.
• Who will butcher the cattle this year?

Similar words: slaughter

Common phrases: butcher a pig, butcher an animal, butcher cattle