destroy
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, Vulgar Latin *destrugō, from Classical Latin dēstruō, from dē- (“un-, de-”) + struō (“I build”). Displaced native Old English shend (“destroy, injure”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
destroy (third-person singular simple present destroys, present participle destroying, simple past and past participle destroyed)
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- The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
- (intransitive) To cause destruction.
- Hooligans destroy unprovoked
- (transitive) To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
- Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate
- (transitive) To put down or euthanize.
- Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
- (colloquial, transitive) To defeat soundly.
- (computing, transitive) To remove data.
- The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.
Synonyms[edit]
- annihilate
- demolish
- kill
- ruin
- waste
- See also Wikisaurus:destroy
Antonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to damage beyond use or repair
to cause destruction
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to neutralize
to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)
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(computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)
(colloquial) to defeat soundly
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