sterminare

to exterminate

verb stehr-mee-NAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin exterminare (to drive beyond the boundary)

Also means

to wipe out

Usage Note

Sterminare conveys the total destruction or killing of a group, population, or infestation. The related noun sterminio means 'extermination' and appears in historical contexts such as campo di sterminio (extermination camp). Uses avere as auxiliary. The adjective sterminato also has a separate meaning: 'immense, endless'.

Examples

"I pesticidi vengono usati per sterminare gli insetti."

Natural Translation

Pesticides are used to exterminate insects.

Literal Translation

The pesticides come used to exterminate the insects.

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