Thursday, 1 December 2011

`extinct’ and ‘extinguished’

When something becomes extinct, it ceases to exist; you don’t find it anywhere on the planet. Any living organism can become extinct. Dinosaurs, for example, have become extinct.
Examples: There are reasons to believe that the tiger will soon become extinct. *Some of the animals in the rainforests are on the verge of extinction.

The word `extinguish’, on the other hand, is usually used along with the word `fire’. When you extinguish a fire or a flame, you put it out.
Example: The firemen battled for three hours before they extinguished the fire.

 Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) –November 06, 2006.

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