French word

abattre

Pronunciation

IPA/abatʁ/

Meaning

  • verbcut down

Example

Le bûcheron a abattu l'arbre.

The lumberjack cut down the tree.

Illustration for abattre (cut down)

More examples

Le fermier doit abattre la vache malade.

The farmer must slaughter the sick cow.

Core concept

A forceful action brings a standing target down, from a tree or aircraft to an animal being killed.

Common phrases

  • abattre un arbre

    fell a tree

  • abattre un animal

    slaughter an animal

  • abattre le moral

    crush morale

Similar words

renverser: To knock an object or person over onto its side.
couper: To divide something by cutting it with a blade or tool.
tuer: To kill a person or animal.
démolir: To tear down a building or other structure.

Definition in French

Signifie mettre à terre quelqu'un ou quelque chose; s'emploie aussi pour tuer un animal ou faire tomber un appareil volant.

Word origin

French abattre is inherited from Old French abatre, formed with a- and battre from Latin battuere, 'to strike', preserving an idea of striking down.

Usage tips

  • As an irregular -re verb, abattre has present forms j'abats, il abat, and ils abattent, while its past participle is abattu.

Other meanings

  • knock downverb
  • shoot downverb
  • slaughterverb

Opposites

Related words

  • abattagefellingnoun
  • abattudowncastadjective
  • abattementdejectionnoun

Word lists with this word