1. the trade or work of a butcher; the business of preparing and selling meat
2. a place where animals are slaughtered or meat is prepared; a slaughterhouse
3. cruel or savage killing; brutal slaughter

Examples

• He learned the butchery trade from his father.
• The old butchery on Main Street closed last year.
• The battle was remembered for its terrible butchery.
• The surgeon’s butchery of the operation left the patient worse off.
• Modern butchery requires knowledge of food safety regulations.
• The butchery of the classic song by the amateur band was painful to hear.
• Animal rights activists protested outside the butchery.