destruct

[ dih-struhkt ]
See synonyms for destruct on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. serving or designed to destroy: a destruct mechanism on a missile.

noun
  1. the act or process of intentional destruction: One out of ten launchings ended in destructs.

verb (used with object)
  1. to destroy.

verb (used without object)
  1. to be destroyed.

Origin of destruct

1
First recorded in 1630–40; back formation from destruction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use destruct in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for destruct

destruct

/ (dɪˈstrʌkt) /


verb
  1. to destroy (one's own missile or rocket) for safety

  2. (intr) (of a missile or rocket) to be destroyed, for safety, by those controlling it; self-destruct

noun
  1. the act of destructing

adjective
  1. designed to be capable of destroying itself or the object, system, or installation containing it: destruct mechanism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012