destructor
Americannoun
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British. a furnace for the burning of refuse; incinerator.
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Rocketry. a destruct mechanism or device for destroying an off-course airborne missile or launch vehicle.
noun
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a furnace or incinerator for the disposal of refuse, esp one that uses the resulting heat to generate power
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a device used to blow up a dangerously defective missile or rocket after launching
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of destructor
1685–95; < Late Latin dēstructor, equivalent to Latin dēstruc- variant stem of dēstruere ( see destruction) + -tor -tor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As he mentioned in different press conferences, every player in the team had clearly defined roles, and his was to be the destructor.
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2023
Two of the biggest disease threats for honey bees, according to the researchers, are DWV and the tiny parasite that spreads it: the Varroa destructor mite.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2023
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor that helps transmit viruses is the chief culprit, but bad weather and queen issues were also big problems in the past year, Steinhauer said.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2023
One of the most severe threats to honey bees over the past several decades has been Varroa destructor, a crablike parasitic mite that feeds on honey bees' fat body tissue.
From Salon ● Nov. 12, 2022
The principal types of destructors now in use are those of Fryer, Whiley, Horsfall, Warner, Meldrum, Beaman and Deas, Heenan and Froude, and the “Sterling” destructor erected by Messrs Hughes and Stirling.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various
Those claims might amount to more than puffery, even if James Naismith may have failed to comprehend the roles of destructors and ambassadors in his beloved game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2020
This type of cell was largely used during the early period of the history of destructors, but has to a considerable extent given place to furnaces of more modern design.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various
“Well, of course you know about the time the pseudomen from the Fifth managed to sneak in and lay a mess of their destructors on Carnol?”
From The Weakling by Dongen, H. R. van
In addition to these the “Beehive” and the “Nelson” destructors became well known.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various
The principal types of destructors now in use are those of Fryer, Whiley, Horsfall, Warner, Meldrum, Beaman and Deas, Heenan and Froude, and the “Sterling” destructor erected by Messrs Hughes and Stirling.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
