extinction
/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/noun
mass noun
1
- the state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct（生物的种、科或更大种群的）灭绝, 绝种：
the extinction of the great auk
大海鸦的灭绝
count noun mass extinctions.大量灭绝。
1.1
- the state or process of ceasing or causing something to cease to exist消灭, 消亡：
the extinction of the state.
国家的消亡。
1.2
- the wiping out of a debt（债务的）偿清。
2
- Physics reduction in the intensity of light or other radiation as it passes through a medium or object, due to absorption, reflection, and scattering【物理】消光：
ultraviolet extinction.
紫外线消光。
词源
late Middle English: from Latin exstinctio（n-）, from exstinguere 'quench' （see EXTINGUISH）.