raze or rase(reɪz
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to demolish (a town, buildings, etc) completely; level (esp in the phrase raze to the ground)
- to delete; erase
- archaic to graze
Alternative Forms
ˈrazer ˈraser nounWord Origin
C16: from Old French raser from Latin rādere to scrapeSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
destroy,
level,
remove,
ruin,
demolish,
flatten,
knock down,
pull down,
tear down,
throw down,
bulldoze,
kennet
jeff,
=
erase,
wipe out,
excise,
delete,
extinguish,
strike out,
obliterate,
efface,
expunge,
rub out,
scratch out,
extirpate,
wipe from the face of the earth
Usage examples
But Al-Muhajiroun doesn't actually do anything - it's not going to raze the English countryside or seize Downing Street.
Spiked (2002)"According to those guys, the number of weapons being kept there could raze Soweto within two minutes.
SA Star (2005)Discourage the vandals and iconoclasts (always boys not girls) who merely want to raze your castle to the ground.
Times, Sunday Times (2004)If you do not, we will kill you, keep your children as slaves and raze your place to the ground.
, 10,000 MILES WITHOUT A CLOUD (2003)