holocaust
/ˈhɒləkɔːst/noun
1
- destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, especially caused by fire or nuclear war（尤指火灾、核战争造成的）大毁灭, 大屠杀：
a nuclear holocaust
大规模的核毁灭
mass noun the threat of imminent holocaust.迫近的屠杀的威胁。
1.1
the Holocaust
the mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime during the period 1941-45. More than 6 million European Jews, as well as members of other persecuted groups, were murdered at concentration camps such as Auschwitz.纳粹大屠杀（1941-1945年德国纳粹当政期间对犹太人的大屠杀, 超过600万的欧洲犹太人以及其他受迫害团体成员在集中营被杀害, 如在奥斯威辛集中营）。
2
- historical a Jewish sacrificial offering which is burnt completely on an altar〈史〉燔祭品（犹太人献祭物, 在祭坛上完全焚烧）。
词源
Middle English: from Old French holocauste, via late Latin from Greek holokauston, from holos 'whole' + kaustos 'burnt' （from kaiein 'burn'）.