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.
RELATED CONTENT
Nearby words
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)
Related forms
de·mol·ish·er, nounde·mol·ish·ment, nounhalf-de·mol·ished, adjectiveun·de·mol·ished, adjectiveSynonym study
1. See destroy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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 upshe demolished the whole cake!
Derived Forms
demolisher, noundemolishment, 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
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