early 15c., "annihilation," from Latin extinctionem/exstinctionem (nominative extinctio/exstinctio) "extinction, annihilation," noun of action from past participle stem of extinguere/exstinguere "quench, wipe out" (see extinguish). Originally of fires, lights; figurative use, the wiping out of a material thing (a debt, a person, a family, etc.) from early 17c.; of species by 1784.
权威例句
1. 30 percent of reptiles, birds, and fish are currently threatened with extinction.
目前,30%的爬行动物、鸟类和鱼类面临灭绝的危险。
2. The centuries-old ritual seems headed for extinction.
延续了几个世纪的仪式似乎要面临消亡。
3. The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.
这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失.
4. The animals were ruthlessly hunted to the verge of extinction.