extinction
pronunciation
How to pronounce extinction in British English:
UK [ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn]
How to pronounce extinction in American English:
US [ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn]
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- Noun:
- no longer in existence
- no longer active; extinguished
- the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation
- complete annihilation
- a conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus
- the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning
Word Origin
- extinction (n.)
- early 15c., "annihilation," from Latin extinctionem/exstinctionem (nominative extinctio/exstinctio) "extinction, annihilation," noun of action from past participle stem of extinguere/exstinguere "quench, wipe out" (see extinguish). Originally of fires, lights; figurative use, the wiping out of a material thing (a debt, a person, a family, etc.) from early 17c.; of species by 1784.
Example
- 1. Better a home in an alien habitat than extinction .
- 2. Malthus noted that in order to avoid extinction a population must continually expand .
- 3. Is extinction or diversity on the rise ?
- 4. Are we building an extinction debt ?
- 5. A certain extinction rate is essential for evolution .