extinct
extinct — adjective
1. describes a type of animal, plant, language, or way of life that once existed on
describes a type of animal, plant, language, or way of life that once existed on earth but has completely died out, so that no members or speakers remain anywhere.
The dodo bird became extinct in the late 1600s due to hunting and habitat loss.
became extinct + time period + cause
Many indigenous languages in South America risk extinction as fewer children learn them from elders.
risk extinction + reason
Jude studied ancient scripts for his PhD, but the spoken language behind them is now completely extinct.
If governments do not protect rainforests, thousands of insect species could become extinct before scientists discover them.
- vanished
emphasises disappearance without a clear trace; can apply to civilisations or objects, not typically to biological species
- lost
broader term that can mean destroyed, misplaced, or simply no longer available; a lost city could be rediscovered, but an extinct species cannot
- defunct
used for organisations, systems, or laws that no longer function; rarely used for living things
文法句型
become + extinct
go + extinct
be + extinct
extinct + noun (species, language, civilization)
用法筆記
Typically used with the verbs become, go, or be declared. Common nouns this adjective modifies include species, language, civilization, culture, tradition, and custom. A species is not called extinct until every last individual has been confirmed dead or gone.
常見錯誤
2. describes a volcano that has not erupted in recorded history and is not expected
describes a volcano that has not erupted in recorded history and is not expected to erupt again, so its cone and crater remain but there is no molten rock activity below the surface.
Mount Hoei in Japan is an extinct volcano that has not erupted for over ten thousand years.
extinct volcano + named example + time since eruption
The trail led the group up the cone of an extinct volcano to a crater filled with rainwater.
Geologists told residents that the mountain was extinct, so there was no need to fear another eruption.
Scientists drilled into the extinct volcano's base to study its ancient rock layers.
文法句型
extinct + volcano
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively to modify the noun volcano. Do not confuse with dormant — a dormant volcano could erupt again, while an extinct volcano cannot.
常見錯誤
3. describes a fire, flame, or source of artificial light that has stopped burning
describes a fire, flame, or source of artificial light that has stopped burning or shining completely, leaving only cold ash, embers, or a dead bulb.
Élise knelt by the fireplace and blew on the coals, but the fire was extinct and would not catch.
When the firefighters arrived, the blaze had burned itself extinct, leaving only blackened timber.
burned itself extinct + remains of fire
The oil lamp had gone extinct hours earlier, and the room was pitch black.
The campfire they had left was already extinct by the time they returned from the hike.
文法句型
be + extinct
burn + extinct
用法筆記
In modern everyday English, the adjective extinct for fire has largely been replaced by out or dead. Using extinct in this sense sounds literary or old-fashioned and is uncommon outside novels and historical writing.
常見錯誤
extinct — verb
1. an archaic or poetic verb meaning to extinguish, that is, to put out a fire, fla
an archaic or poetic verb meaning to extinguish, that is, to put out a fire, flame, or light so that it stops burning or shining.
In the old epic, the hero commands the gods to extinct the dragon's fiery breath.
archaic transitive use: to extinct [something]
The medieval chronicle describes a ritual meant to extinct the last embers of rebellion.
The scribe wrote that the queen ordered her guards to extinct every torch in the chamber.
In the old tale, the wizard raised his hand to extinct the candles on every wall at once.
- extinguish
the standard modern verb for putting out a fire or light
- quench
to put out a fire, especially with water
- douse
to throw water on a fire to put it out
文法句型
extinct + something (archaic)
用法筆記
This verb form is extremely rare in modern English and is almost never used outside historical or poetic writing. The modern verb for this meaning is extinguish. Do not use extinct as a verb in everyday speech or writing.