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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Extinguish: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：put out a fire (extinguish)

extinguish 🔊

/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

vt.

To make a fire or light stop burning or shining, like pouring water on a campfire or turning off a flashlight.

Firefighter extinguishing a fire with water hose

put out a fire 🔊

➕

/pʊt aʊt ə faɪər/

vt.

To cause something, especially a fire or light, to stop burning or shining, typically by removing its source of fuel or oxygen.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin exstinguere (ex- 'out' + stinguere 'to quench').

💡 Mnemonic

Ex (out) + 'tinguish' sounds like 'ting' (bell). Imagine ringing a bell when you put out a fire.

📖 Example

After the campfire party, everyone helped extinguish the flames with buckets of water to ensure no embers were left. 🔊 After the campfire party, everyone helped extinguish the flames with buckets of water to ensure no embers were left.

🔗 Collocations

extinguish a fire – to stop a fire from burning

extinguish a candle – to blow out or put out a candle

extinguish a cigarette – to stub out or put out a cigarette

🔄 Synonyms

quench (vt.) – To satisfy a thirst or to put out a fire by cooling or smothering.

douse (vt.) – To pour a liquid, usually water, over someone or something to stop a fire.

smother (vt.) – To kill or put out a fire by covering it to prevent oxygen from reaching it.

🚫 Antonyms

ignite (vt.) – To cause something to start burning or catch fire.

kindle (vt.) – To light a fire or cause something to start burning.

light (vt.) – To set something on fire or cause it to burn.

🌱 Derivatives

extinguisher (n.) – A device used to put out a fire.

extinguishable (adj.) – Capable of being put out or ended.

inextinguishable (adj.) – Not able to be put out or ended; unquenchable.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'exstinguere', formed from ex- (out) and stinguere (to quench). The same root appears in 'distinguish', which originally meant to separate or quench. In English, it shifted from physical quenching to metaphorical ending.

Meaning 2：put an end to hope (extinguish)

extinguish 🔊

/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

vt.

To completely destroy or put an end to something abstract, such as hope, enthusiasm, or an argument, making it disappear for good.

Hand turning off lamp to extinguish light in room

put an end to hope 🔊

➕

/pʊt æn ɛnd tuː hoʊp/

vt.

To completely destroy or put an end to something abstract, such as a feeling, idea, or argument, making it disappear entirely.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The kind coach's encouraging words helped extinguish the young athlete's fear of failure before the big race. 🔊 The kind coach's encouraging words helped extinguish the young athlete's fear of failure before the big race.

🔗 Collocations

extinguish hope – to completely eliminate hope

extinguish enthusiasm – to kill or remove enthusiasm

extinguish a rumor – to stop a rumor from spreading

🔄 Synonyms

quash (vt.) – To suppress or put an end to something, especially by force or authority.

quell (vt.) – To put an end to something, such as a rebellion or feeling, by using force or persuasion.

suppress (vt.) – To forcibly put an end to something, especially an activity or expression.

🚫 Antonyms

ignite (vt.) – To arouse or excite a feeling or reaction.

fuel (vt.) – To sustain or increase a feeling or activity.

encourage (vt.) – To give support, confidence, or hope to someone.

🌱 Derivatives

extinguisher (n.) – A device used to put out a fire (also used metaphorically).

extinguishable (adj.) – Capable of being ended or destroyed.

inextinguishable (adj.) – Not able to be ended or destroyed; lasting forever.