English Dictionary
Definition of “demolish”
demolish (dɪˈmɒlɪʃ
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to tear down or break up (buildings, etc)
- to destroy; put an end to (an argument, etc)
- facetious to eat up ⇒
she demolished the whole cake!
Alternative Forms
deˈmolisher noun deˈmolishment noun Word Origin
C16: from French démolir, from Latin dēmōlīrī to throw down, destroy, from de- + mōlīrī to strive, toil, construct, from mōles mass, bulk
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
knock down,
level,
destroy,
ruin,
overthrow,
dismantle,
flatten,
trash,
total,
tear down,
bulldoze,
raze,
pulverize,
=
devour,
eat,
consume,
swallow,
bolt,
hoover,
gorge,
put away,
gobble up,
guzzle,
polish off,
gulp down,
wolf down,
pig out on
Translations
- British English:
demolish
When a building is demolished, it is knocked down, often because it is old or dangerous.The storm demolished many buildings.dɪˈmɒlɪʃ VERB The storm demolished many buildings.
- Spanish:
demoler
v
- French:
démolir
vt
- German:
abreißen
v
- Chinese: 拆毁 v
- Arabic: يَهْدِمُ v
- Portuguese: demolir v
- Russian: разрушать v
- Croatian: srušiti v
- Czech: zbořit v bourat
- Danish: nedrive v
- Dutch: slopen v
- Finnish: purkaa v
- Greek: κατεδαφίζω v
- Italian: demolire v
- Japanese: 取り壊す v
- Korean: 부수다 v
- Norwegian: rasere v
- Polish: zburzyć v burzyć
- Brazilian Portuguese: demolir v
- European Spanish:
demoler
v
- Swedish: förstöra v
- Thai: รื้อถอน v
- Turkish: yıkmak v
- Vietnamese: phá hủy v
Usage examples
Anyhow, the more they demolish the past, the more valuable will be what's left.
Richard Francis, PROSPECT HILL (2003)At a deeper level, what the defenders did not anticipate was that the invaders would find a way to demolish the distribution barrier.
Business Today (1998)Signs of shame ``SHAME, Walkerville Council ' and ``Don't demolish our history '.
The Advertiser, Sunday Mail (2004)Like King Lear's venomous daughters, Major is quite happy to demolish the hand that fed.
Sun, News of the World (2001)It was therefore vital that I somehow demolish the solid rock of his `confession", the only evidence of substance against him.
Kennedy, Ludovic, On My Way to the Club (1990)
