Dictionary

obliterate

verb oblit·er·ate \ə-ˈbli-tə-ˌrāt, ō-\

: to destroy (something) completely so that nothing is left

oblit·er·at·edoblit·er·at·ing

Full Definition of OBLITERATE

transitive verb
1
a :  to remove utterly from recognition or memory
b :  to remove from existence :  destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of
c :  to cause to disappear (as a bodily part or a scar) or collapse (as a duct conveying body fluid) :  remove 4 <a blood vessel obliterated by inflammation>
2
:  to make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or wearing away
3
:  cancel 4
oblit·er·a·tion \-ˌbli-tə-ˈrā-shən\ noun
oblit·er·a·tor \-ˈbli-tə-ˌrā-tər\ noun
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Origin of OBLITERATE

Latin oblitteratus, past participle of oblitterare, from ob- ob- + littera letter
First Known Use: 1600

Rhymes with OBLITERATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
OBLITERATION Defined for Kids

obliterate

verb oblit·er·ate \ə-ˈbli-tə-ˌrāt\
oblit·er·at·edoblit·er·at·ing

Definition of OBLITERATE for Kids

:  to remove, destroy, or hide completely
Medical Dictionary

obliterate

transitive verb oblit·er·ate \ə-ˈblit-ə-ˌrāt, ō-\
oblit·er·at·edoblit·er·at·ing

Medical Definition of OBLITERATE

:  to cause to disappear (as a bodily part or a scar) or collapse (as a duct conveying body fluid) <a blood vessel obliterated by inflammation>
oblit·er·a·tion \-ˌblit-ə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

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