destructor

American  

[dih-struhk-ter] / dɪˈstrʌk tər /

noun

• destructors
  plural

1. British. a furnace for the burning of refuse; incinerator.

2. Rocketry. a destruct mechanism or device for destroying an off-course airborne missile or launch vehicle.

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destructor British  

/ dɪˈstrʌktə /

noun

1. a furnace or incinerator for the disposal of refuse, esp one that uses the resulting heat to generate power

2. a device used to blow up a dangerously defective missile or rocket after launching

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• destructors
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of destructor

1685–95; < Late Latin dēstructor, equivalent to Latin dēstruc- variant stem of dēstruere ( see destruction) + -tor -tor

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

destructor destructors

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 European honeybee is also being badly affected by a parasitic mite called varroa destructor.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 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

There was a dull red glow at the bottom of the destructor, not enough to char the wooden lid if she slipped it half over against the driving wet.

From A Diversity of Creatures by Rudyard Kipling

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

“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 H. R. van Dongen

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

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

The cost of burning ton for ton consumed, in high-temperature furnaces, including labour and repairs, is not greater than in slow-combustion destructors.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3 "Destructors" to "Diameter" by Various

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