First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
destroy
verb de·stroy \di-ˈstrȯi, dē-\
: to cause (something) to end or no longer exist : to cause the destruction of (something) : to damage (something) so badly that it cannot be repaired
: to kill (an animal) especially because it is sick, injured, or dangerous
: to defeat (someone or something) easily or completely
Full Definition of DESTROY
transitive verb
1
: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of <destroyed the files>; also : to ruin as if by tearing to shreds <their reputation was destroyed>
2
a : to put out of existence : kill <destroy an injured horse> b : neutralize <the moon destroys the light of the stars> c : annihilate, vanquish <armies had been crippled but not destroyed — W. L. Shirer>
intransitive verb
: to cause destruction
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Origin of DESTROY
Middle English, from Anglo-French destroy-, destrui-, stem of destrure, from Vulgar Latin *destrugere, alteration of Latin destruere, from de- + struere to build — more at structure
Related to DESTROY
Rhymes with DESTROY
ahoy, alloy, annoy, bad boy, ball boy, batboy, B-boy, beachboy, bellboy, bell buoy, best boy, big boy, bok choy, borzoi, boy toy, busboy, callboy, carboy, charpoy, choirboy, convoy, cowboy, decoy, deploy, doughboy, employ, enjoy, envoy, flyboy, footboy, Hanoi, hautbois, highboy, homeboy, houseboy, killjoy, Khoikhoi, life buoy, linkboy, lowboy, McCoy, newsboy, old boy, page boy, playboy, plowboy, po'boy, postboy, potboy, Quemoy, Rob Roy, Saint Croix, Savoy, schoolboy, sepoy, stock boy, tallboy, tatsoi, teapoy, Tolstoy, tomboy, travois, viceroy
DESTROY Defined for Kids
destroy
verb de·stroy \di-ˈstrȯi\
de·stroyedde·stroy·ing
Definition of DESTROY for Kids
1
: to put an end to : do away with <destroy a building> <destroy a dream>
2
: 1kill 1 <Officials destroyed the diseased animals.>
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