Search Result for "destroy": 
Wordnet 3.0

VERB (4)

1. do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of;
- Example: "The fire destroyed the house"
[syn: destroy, destruct]

2. destroy completely; damage irreparably;
- Example: "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"
- Example: "The tears ruined her make-up"
[syn: destroy, ruin]

3. defeat soundly;
- Example: "The home team demolished the visitors"
[syn: demolish, destroy]

4. put (an animal) to death;
- Example: "The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid"
- Example: "the sick cat had to be put down"
[syn: destroy, put down]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Destroy \De*stroy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Destroying.] [OE. destroien, destruien, destrien, OF. destruire, F. d['e]truire, fr. L. destruere, destructum; de + struere to pile up, build. See Structure.] 1. To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of; to demolish. [1913 Webster] But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves. --Ex. xxxiv. 13. [1913 Webster] 2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume. [1913 Webster] I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation. --Jer. xii. 17. [1913 Webster] 3. To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill. [1913 Webster] If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, By some false guile pervert. --Milton. Syn: To demolish; lay waste; consume; raze; dismantle; ruin; throw down; overthrow; subvert; desolate; devastate; deface; extirpate; extinguish; kill; slay. See Demolish. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

destroy v 1: do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of; "The fire destroyed the house" [syn: destroy, destruct] 2: destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up" [syn: destroy, ruin] 3: defeat soundly; "The home team demolished the visitors" [syn: demolish, destroy] 4: put (an animal) to death; "The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid"; "the sick cat had to be put down" [syn: destroy, put down]