First Known Use: circa 1605
Dictionary
delete
verb de·lete \di-ˈlēt, dē-\
: to remove (something, such as words, pictures, or computer files) from a document, recording, computer, etc.
de·let·edde·let·ing
Full Definition of DELETE
transitive verb
: to eliminate especially by blotting out, cutting out, or erasing <delete a passage in a manuscript> <delete a computer file>
See delete defined for English-language learners
See delete defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DELETE
Latin deletus, past participle of delēre to wipe out, destroy
Related to DELETE
- Synonyms
- blue-pencil, cancel, cross (out), dele, x (out), edit (out), elide, kill, scratch (out), strike (out), stroke (out)
Rhymes with DELETE
accrete, aesthete, afreet, athlete, backbeat, backseat, backstreet, bedsheet, bench seat, big beat, bolete, box pleat, box seat, break beat, broadsheet, browbeat, buckwheat, bystreet, call sheet, car seat, cheat sheet, clipsheet, cloud street, cold feet, compete, compleat, complete, conceit, concrete, crabmeat, crib sheet, deadbeat, dead heat, dead meat, deceit, defeat, deplete, discreet, discrete, disseat, downbeat, drop seat, drumbeat, dutch treat, effete, elite, en suite, entreat, escheat, excrete, facete, Fleet Street, fly sheet, forcemeat, foresheet, four-peat, gamete, groundsheet, hard wheat, heartbeat, heat-treat, helpmeet, hoofbeat, hot seat, house seat, ice sheet, ill-treat, jump seat, kick pleat, love seat, mainsheet, Main Street, maltreat, mesquite, mincemeat, mistreat, offbeat, Ossete, petite, pink sheet, preheat, rap sheet, receipt, recheat, red heat, red meat, red wheat, regreet, repeat, replete, retreat, scratch sheet, secrete, side street, slip-sheet, soft wheat, spreadsheet, stand treat, swap meet, sweetmeat, tear sheet, terete, three-peat, through street, time sheet, unmeet, unseat, upbeat, vegete, volkslied, white heat
DELETE Defined for Kids
delete
verb de·lete \di-ˈlēt\
de·let·edde·let·ing
Definition of DELETE for Kids
: to take out especially by erasing, crossing out, or cutting <delete a sentence> <delete a computer file>
Learn More About DELETE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: delete keyPrevious Word in the Dictionary: DelesseriaAll Words Near: delete
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up delete? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).