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liq·ui·date

(lĭkwĭ-dāt′)

v. liq·ui·dat·ed, liq·ui·dat·ing, liq·ui·dates

v.tr.

a. To pay off (a debt, claim, or obligation); settle.

b. To settle the affairs of (a business firm, for example) by determining the liabilities and applying the assets to their discharge.

2. To convert (assets) into cash.

3. To eliminate, especially by killing.

v.intr.

1. To settle a debt, claim, or obligation.

2. To settle the affairs of a business or estate by disposing of its assets and liabilities.

[Late Latin liquidāre, liquidāt-, to melt, from Latin liquidus, liquid; see LIQUID.]

liq′ui·dation n.

liqui·da′tor n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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