pulverize

[ puhl-vuh-rahyz ]
/ ˈpʌl vəˌraɪz /

verb (used with object), pul·ver·ized, pul·ver·iz·ing.

to reduce to dust or powder, as by pounding or grinding.
to demolish or crush completely.
Slang. to defeat, hurt badly, or, figuratively, render helpless: The Kid pulverized Jackson with a series of brutal lefts. He's a veteran nightclub comic who can pulverize any audience in seconds.

verb (used without object), pul·ver·ized, pul·ver·iz·ing.

to become reduced to dust.
Also especially British, pul·ver·ise.

Origin of pulverize

1575–85; < Late Latin pulverizāre to reduce to powder, equivalent to Latin pulver- (stem of pulvis; akin to pollen) dust + -izāre -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM pulverize

Words nearby pulverize

pulsus rarus, pultaceous, pulu, pulv., pulverable, pulverize, pulverulent, pulvillus, pulvinar, pulvinate, pulvinus

Example sentences from the Web for pulverization

British Dictionary definitions for pulverization

pulverize

pulverise

/ (ˈpʌlvəˌraɪz) /

verb

to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced
(tr) to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously

Derived forms of pulverize

pulverizable or pulverisable, adjective pulverization or pulverisation, noun pulverizer or pulveriser, noun

Word Origin for pulverize

C16: from Late Latin pulverizare or French pulvériser, from Latin pulverum, from pulvis dust