demolish
[ dih-mol-ish ]
/ dɪˈmɒl ɪʃ /
verb (used with object)
to destroy or ruin (a building or other structure), especially on purpose; tear down; raze.
to put an end to; destroy; explode: The results of his research demolished many theories.
to lay waste to; ruin utterly: The fire demolished the area.
Informal.
to devour completely: We simply demolished that turkey.
Origin of demolish
1560–70; < Middle French
démoliss-, stem of
démolir < Latin
dēmōlīrī to destroy, equivalent to
dē-
de- +
mōlīrī to set in motion, struggle (
mōl(ēs) mass, bulk +
-īrī infinitive suffix)
synonym study for demolish
1. See
destroy.
OTHER WORDS FROM demolish
de·mol·ish·er, noun de·mol·ish·ment, noun half-de·mol·ished, adjective un·de·mol·ished, adjectiveWords nearby demolish
Example sentences from the Web for demolish
British Dictionary definitions for demolish
demolish
/ (dɪˈmɒlɪʃ) /
verb (tr)
to tear down or break up (buildings, etc)
to destroy; put an end to (an argument, etc)
facetious
to eat up
she demolished the whole cake!
Derived forms of demolish
demolisher, noun demolishment, nounWord Origin for demolish
C16: from French
démolir, from Latin
dēmōlīrī to throw down, destroy, from
de- +
mōlīrī to strive, toil, construct, from
mōles mass, bulk