holocausts

Noun

holocaust (plural holocausts)

1. An offering or sacrifice to a deity that is completely burned to ashes.
   • And the ſcribe ſayde vnto hym: well maſter⸝ thou haſt ſayde the trugthe⸝ thatt there ys one God⸝ and that there is none but he. And to love hym with all the herte⸝ and with all the mynde⸝ and with all the ſoule⸝ ãd with all the ſtrẽgthe. And to love a mans nehbour as hym ſilfe⸝ ys a greater thynge...1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Gospell off S. Marke xij:[32–33], folio lxiij, verso
2. (also, broadly, figuratively) A complete or large offering or sacrifice.
   • Inſnar'd ſhe was in Shechems Treachery, / And, ſilly Mayden, ſuddenly became / An Holocauſt to Luſts unhappy Flame.1648, Joseph Beaumont, “Canto XVII. The Mortification. Stanza 100.”, in Psyche: Or Loves Mysterie, […], London: […] John Dawson for George Boddington, […], →OCLC, page 322, column 2

   Synonyms:

   hecatomb

3. (broadly) Complete destruction by fire; also, the thing so destroyed.
   • So vertue giv'n for loſt, / Depreſt, and overthrown, as ſeem'd, / Like that ſelf-begott'n bird [the phoenix] / In the Arabian woods emboſt, / That no ſecond knows nor third, / And lay e're while a Holocauſt, / From out her aſhie womb now teem'd, / Revives, reflouriſhes, then vigorous moſt / When...1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 98, lines...
4. (broadly, figuratively) Extensive destruction of a group of animals or (especially) people; a large-scale massacre or slaughter.
   • a nuclear holocaust

See all 9 meanings of holocaust