raze

Or rase

[reyz]

verb (used with object)

razed, razing 

1. to tear down; demolish; level to the ground.

   to raze a row of old buildings.

2. to shave or scrape off.

raze

/ reɪz /

verb

1. to demolish (a town, buildings, etc) completely; level (esp in the phrase raze to the ground )

2. to delete; erase

3. archaic,  to graze

Other Word Forms

• razer noun
• unrazed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of raze¹

1540–50; Middle English rasen < Middle French raser < *Vulgar Latin rāsāre to scrape, frequentative of Latin rādere to scrape

Word History and Origins

Origin of raze¹

C16: from Old French raser from Latin rādere to scrape

Synonym Study

See destroy.

Example Sentences

Another resident, from the northern town of Beit Lahia, told us his area was now a "wasteland", after Israel's army razed it to the ground.

Read more on BBC

But her reflexively partisan response to the razing of Judge Goodstein’s home is telling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Since then, Israeli forces have remained, razing large areas of the camps in both cities, and demolishing buildings in other areas.

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Superior Court judge, who rejected a legal challenge from the homeowners claiming the city’s landmark designation violated their right to raze the residence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Israel's defence minister warned that Gaza City will be razed if Hamas does not agree to disarm and release all hostages.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bulldoze 
• demolish 
• destroy 
• dynamite 
• erase 
• extinguish 
• obliterate 
• overthrow 
• scatter 
• smash 
• topple 
• wipe out 
• wreck