The words dead and killed are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings.
Dead
- Definition: Dead describes a state of being no longer alive. It refers to the final outcome of life.
- Examples:
- "The old tree is dead."
- "The patient was declared dead on arrival."
Killed
- Definition: Killed describes an action that resulted in someone or something being dead. It refers to the cause of death.
- Examples:
- "The hunter killed the deer."
- "The fire killed the building."
In summary, dead describes a state of being, while killed describes an action.
