to destroy or ruin (a building or other structure), especially on purpose; tear down; raze.
2.
to put an end to; destroy; explode:
The results of his research demolished many theories.
3.
to lay waste to; ruin utterly:
The fire demolished the area.
4.
Informal. to devour completely:
We simply demolished that turkey.
Origin
1560-70; < Middle Frenchdémoliss-, stem of démolir < Latindēmōlīrī to destroy, equivalent to dē-de- + mōlīrī to set in motion, struggle (mōl(ēs) mass, bulk + -īrī infinitive suffix)
But they are not protected from eviction if the landlord gets approval to demolish the building.
Preservationists had fought a plan to demolish the building, according to the article.
Its easier to demolish seats then to change a trade tariff.
Costs of decommissioning demolish the economics of nuclear power.
The easiest solution is to demolish such structures.
Add an owner eager to sell it and a buyer who may want to demolish it.
It is not difficult to demolish each argument in turn.
Some wanted to demolish the building and build anew on its site.
Take that away and you demolish the largest driver of economic growth on the planet.
He then erects a straw tenet only to demolish it on the ground of its absurdity.
British Dictionary definitions for demolish
demolish
/dɪˈmɒlɪʃ/
verb (transitive)
1.
to tear down or break up (buildings, etc)
2.
to destroy; put an end to (an argument, etc)
3.
(facetious) to eat up: she demolished the whole cake!
Derived Forms
demolisher, noun demolishment, noun
Word Origin
C16: from French démolir, from Latin dēmōlīrī to throw down, destroy, from de- + mōlīrī to strive, toil, construct, from mōles mass, bulk
Word Origin and History for demolish
v.
1560s, from Middle French demoliss-, present participle stem of démolir "to destroy, tear down" (late 14c.), from Latin demoliri "tear down," from de- "down" (see de-) + moliri "build, construct," from moles (genitive molis) "massive structure" (see mole (n.3)). Related: Demolished; demolishing.